Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 10/21/2017

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks head to Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The opening line for this game has Houston as 11 point favorites.

The Mavericks come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 33-49. They were 5th in the Southwest Division. They had a point differential of -2.9 as they averaged 97.9 points per game while giving up 100.8 per contest. The Rockets had an overall record of 55-27 last season. They were 2nd in the Southwest Division. They averaged 115.3 points per game and surrendered 109.6, good for a point differential of 5.7.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks were 43-38-1 against the spread last season

The Dallas Mavericks were 34-48-0 against the over/under last year

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets were 42-39-1 against the spread last season

The Houston Rockets were 41-40-1 against the over/under last year

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

10/07/17 G Seth Curry Stress Fracture out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

10/18/17 PG Chris Paul Knee is "?"

Player Spotlight

Dirk Nowitzki comes into this game after averaging 14.2 points per contest while playing 26.4 minutes per night last year. He grabbed 6.5 rebounds per contest and distributed 1.5 assists per game. His FG percentage was 44% while his free throw percentage was 88%. Harrison Barnes averaged 19.2 points per contest in 35.5 minutes per game last year. He averaged 1.5 assists per game and 5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage was 47% for the season while his free throw percentage was 86%.

Player Spotlight

James Harden scored 29.1 points per contest while playing 36.4 minutes per game last season. He hauled in 8.1 rebounds per contest and had 11.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage was 44% and his free throw percentage finished at 85%. Chris Paul averaged 18.1 points per game last year and he saw the court an average of 31.5 minutes per game. He also brought in 5 rebounds per game and had 9.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage was 48% and his free throw percentage was 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas averaged 97.9 points per contest last year, which was 30th in the league. Their average scoring margin was -2.93 and their shooting percentage was 44% as a unit, which had them ranked 28th. From 3-point territory they shot 36%, which was good for 16th in the NBA. They averaged 38.6 boards per contest and 20.8 assists per game, which ranked them 30th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they were 28th with 11.9 per game. The Mavericks allowed 100.8 points per contest, which was 4th in the NBA. They also surrendered a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 29th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents averaged 44.5 rebounds a game which ranked 25th, and they allowed 21.3 assists per game which put them in 5th place in the league. They forced 14.9 turnovers per game which ranked them 23rd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston was 2nd in the NBA with 115.3 points per contest last season. They were 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin was 5.77. They shot 36% from beyond the arc, which was good for 15th in the league. They were 8th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.4 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 25.2. The Rockets were 6th in turnovers per contest with 15.1. The Rockets gave up 109.6 points per game, which ranked them 26th in the league. Their defense surrendered a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 23rd and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They ranked 26th with 24.1 dimes allowed per game and 19th with 44.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets were 26th in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per contest last year.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks were 25th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.6, and their defensive rating of 108.8 was ranked 15th last season. In terms of pace they were 29th in the league with 92.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% was 18th. As a team they were 19th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shot 3 pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league. Dallas was 28th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 53%, which was 4th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston was 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 52%, which was 10th in the NBA. The Rockets were 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 114.7 was ranked 13th. They were 3rd in the NBA in pace with 100 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% was 3rd. As a unit they were 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Mavericks/Rockets NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas +11

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