Houston is 5-0, and the market has the Rockets as just over a 2-to-1 favorite against a Mavs team they beat handily in the season opener.
First-time NBA head coach Dusty May has the Mavs playing great team basketball. They come into their NBA Cup opener at 3-2 on the year, following a 120-96 win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday in which Flagg had a team-high 26 points to go with five rebounds and eight assists. Two nights prior, Flagg went for 29, six and 11 in a road win at Miami. The 19-year-old has looked like the best player on the court in games that have featured former MVPs and NBA champions.
The Rockets' injury report is notable with Sengun, their leader in points, rebounds and assists, questionable with a back problem after missing Wednesday's win against the Bucks. Smart is questionable, while Sheppard and Adams are both listed as out. The opening game of the season in Houston was an 18-point Rockets win with Sengun on the floor, but a closer look shows the Mavs outscored the Rockets by 14 points in the second half. Dallas has continued to get better every game, and I like the Mavericks to win this one outright at plus money.
Rockets vs Mavericks prediction: Dallas Mavericks ML (+208) available at time of publishing. Playable to +170.
