The Dallas Mavericks (2-4) face the Houston Rockets (3-2) Monday in regular-season action. Tip-off from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, is set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Mavericks vs. Rockets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Rockets won 3-1
The Mavs fell to the Detroit Pistons 122-110 Saturday at 7.5-point road dogs. Operating without F Anthony Davis (calf), the Mavs got 16 points, 8 boards and 4 assists from No. 1 overall pick F Cooper Flagg. G D’Angelo Russell dropped 31 (7-for-13 from downtown) off the bench. This is just their second road game of the season.
The Rockets are soaring, winners of 3 straight. The latest was a 128-101 victory at the Boston Celtics as 4.5-point favorites Saturday. F Kevin Durant and C Alperen Sengun are proving to be a force inside and out. KD dropped a team-high 26 points, and Sengun had 16 points, 10 boards and 9 assists. Five other players had double figures.
Mavericks at Rockets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:01 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Mavericks +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Rockets -700 (bet $700 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Mavericks +12.5 (-105) | Rockets -12.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Mavericks at Rockets key injuries
Mavericks
F Anthony Davis (calf) outG Dante Exum (knee) outG Kyrie Irving (knee) outF Dereck Lively II (knee) out
Rockets
F Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) outF Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) questionableG Fred VanVleet (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Mavericks at Rockets picks and predictionsPrediction
Rockets 120, Mavericks 110
There’s no play here as the Rockets are huge favorites at home. The Mavs are too thin and inexperienced to have any faith in despite the game being close to home.
PASS.
I will take MAVERICKS +12.5 (-105). Houston is 4-1 ATS, but this spread is too large for me. I could see Durant’s minutes scaling back a bit before the Rockets go on a 3-game road trip this week.
The key here is Dallas being able to score the 110 they posted against Detroit Saturday. The Mavs are 2-2 O/U in their last 4, and Houston has cashed 3 straight Overs and are 4-1 O/U on the season.
Give me OVER 224.5 (-115).
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