PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NBA Sunday Top Ticket
(NBA) Dallas vs. Houston,
Point Spread: 15.50 | -105.00 Dallas (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 15.50 | -105.00 Dallas (Away)
Result: Win
I wasn't looking to step in front of the Rockets, winners of seven in a row, including burying the Nuggets, 130-104, this past Friday.
Dallas isn't going to have Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews and backup point guard J.J. Barea for this matchup.
The oddsmaker is begging to get money on the Mavericks and the marketplace has made Dallas even more inviting by betting the Rockets up. So I'll oblige by firing on Dallas at what I believe is an inflated number.
Only once in their last 27 games have the Mavericks lost by more than 15 points.
The teams last met on Jan. 24. The Mavericks were 6 1/2-point home 'dogs and lost 104-97. The Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games against opponents with a winning home mark. Dallas also has covered in eight of its last 11 away matchups.
The Mavericks had their best offensive showing of the season in beating the Lakers, 130-123, at home against the Lakers last night. So they should enter this division game with confidence. Not having Matthews is tough. He may be the Mavericks' best overall player, but Nowitzki isn't worth anything on the line being far over-the-hill. The Mavericks have some underrated talent with Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, Yogi Ferrell, Dwight Powell and newly acquired Doug McDermott.
Of course these players can't compare to the Rockets' loaded lineup headed by superstars James Harden and Chris Paul. But the Dallas youngsters should be counted on to play big minutes - and to play hard.
Houston doesn't have any special incentive or motivation for this game. The Rockets, in fact, should use this game to cut back the overextended minutes of their star players since this is their fourth game in six days and they have a much more challenging game on deck when they play the Timberwolves on the road Tuesday. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last six home games versus foes with a losing road record.
Dallas isn't going to have Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews and backup point guard J.J. Barea for this matchup.
The oddsmaker is begging to get money on the Mavericks and the marketplace has made Dallas even more inviting by betting the Rockets up. So I'll oblige by firing on Dallas at what I believe is an inflated number.
Only once in their last 27 games have the Mavericks lost by more than 15 points.
The teams last met on Jan. 24. The Mavericks were 6 1/2-point home 'dogs and lost 104-97. The Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games against opponents with a winning home mark. Dallas also has covered in eight of its last 11 away matchups.
The Mavericks had their best offensive showing of the season in beating the Lakers, 130-123, at home against the Lakers last night. So they should enter this division game with confidence. Not having Matthews is tough. He may be the Mavericks' best overall player, but Nowitzki isn't worth anything on the line being far over-the-hill. The Mavericks have some underrated talent with Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, Yogi Ferrell, Dwight Powell and newly acquired Doug McDermott.
Of course these players can't compare to the Rockets' loaded lineup headed by superstars James Harden and Chris Paul. But the Dallas youngsters should be counted on to play big minutes - and to play hard.
Houston doesn't have any special incentive or motivation for this game. The Rockets, in fact, should use this game to cut back the overextended minutes of their star players since this is their fourth game in six days and they have a much more challenging game on deck when they play the Timberwolves on the road Tuesday. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last six home games versus foes with a losing road record.
