The set-up: These teams don't play a lot of defense most nights. The Mavs have lost three of their last five though and they come in off a terrible performance at home, giving up a season high 133 points in a loss to the lowly Suns:

"This team has done so many things to get people excited about it and really worked hard to get into a solid position at this point in time," coach Rick Carlisle said. "A performance like this is just tough. Nights like this do happen, but this was extreme."

Suffice it to say, I expect the visiting side to double down on the defensive end tonight, as clearly the last thing it'll want to do is to get into a shootout on the road with the Rockets.

Houston enters off a road loss in Portland.

The pick: note as well that Dallas has seen teh total go under the number in three of four already this season after a loss by ten points or more, while Houston has seen the total go under in ten of 16 already this season in trying to revenge a loss vs. an opponent. This number is a tad high.

10* TOTAL ELITE OF THE ELITE on the UNDER Mavericks/Rockets.