[8:40 PM] Rockets @ Mavericks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Houston Rockets (0-1)

@ Dallas Mavericks (0-1)

 

Current odds:

Houston Rockets: (-120)

Dallas Mavericks: (+100)

 

• ESPN simulations have Houston as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Dallas to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is Rockets by 1 point.

• James Harden is being asked to be a facilitator this season and the Houston All-Star guard took it to new heights in the Rockets’ season opener. Harden set a career-high with 17 assists during the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will again look to combine passes with shots as Houston begins a home-and-home series against the host Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

• Defense figures to be an issue most of the season as even a 71-point first half wasn’t enough to propel Houston past a team that went 17-65 last season.  Clint Capela has replaced the departed Dwight Howard as the Rockets’ center and he fared well with 16 points (on 8-of-11 shooting) and nine rebounds.

• Small forward Harrison Barnes experienced a solid debut with Dallas by producing 19 points and nine rebounds in the loss to the Pacers. Barnes was lured away from the Golden State Warriors with a four-year, $95 million contract but he had trouble enjoying his good effort due to the defeat.

• The teams split four meetings last season.

• Houston was just 7-of-29 from 3-point range in the opener and missed 15 of 16 second-half attempts.

• Dallas G J.J. Barea (elbow) played in the opener and had 22 points in 39 minutes off the bench.

• Dirk Nowitzki will miss the game tonight with a stomach illness leading me to flip the pick here based off what we initially had.

StreakSmarts Pick: Houston Rockets 

Confidence: 4/10

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