Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/8/2018

Saturday, December 8, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, December 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 4 point favorites.

The Rockets head into this matchup with a mark of 11-13. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of -1.4 as they average 108.5 points per contest while giving up 109.8 per game. The Mavericks have an overall record of 12-11 this season. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They average 110.6 points per game and surrender 109.6, good for a point differential of 1.0.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 9-15-0 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 14-10-0 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 15-8-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 13-10-0 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely
10/20/18 PG Brandon Knight Knee is out indefinitely

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/05/18 PG Dennis Smith Jr. Wrist is questionable Saturday vs Houston
10/12/18 F Dirk Nowitzki Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul comes into this contest averaging 16.4 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. James Harden averages 29.8 points per game in 36.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 8.3 assists per contest and 5.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic averages 18.1 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.5 rebounds per game and has 4.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Dennis Smith averages 13.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 4.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 108.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 21st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 22nd. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 41.1 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 28th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.3 per game. The Rockets allow 109.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 26th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.0 rebounds a game which ranks 7th and they give up 21.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas is 14th in the league with 110.6 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.0. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They are 15th in the league in rebounding with 45.4 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 22.9. The Mavericks are 3rd in turnovers per game with 16.0. The Mavericks surrender 109.6 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 20th with 24.3 assists allowed per contest and 6th with 42.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 22nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.0 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.1, and their defensive rating of 113.5 is ranked 26th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 8th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 3rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 10th in the NBA. The Mavericks are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 108.8, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 12th. They are 10th in the NBA in pace with 100.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Dallas +4

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