Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks Predictions, NBA Picks, Betting Tips 7/31/2020

Game: Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks

Date: Friday, July 31, 2020

Location: The Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 226.5

The Arena is the venue where Kristaps Porzingis and the Dallas Mavericks (40-27, 2nd in the Southwest Division) will take on the Houston Rockets (40-24, 1st in the Southwest Division) on Friday. Houston opens this matchup as 1.5-point favorites. The O/U opens at 226.5.

The Rockets are covering the spread 45.3% of the time, having gone 29-35-0 ATS. Dallas is covering 54.7% of the time, going 35-29-3 against the spread.

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

07/13/20 PG Russell Westbrook COVID-19 is questionable Friday vs Dallas
07/13/20 SF Bruno Caboclo COVID-19 is questionable Friday vs Dallas

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

06/29/20 C Willie Cauley-Stein COVID-19 is out for season
06/28/20 SG Courtney Lee Calf is out for season
02/24/20 PG Jalen Brunson Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/21/20 PF Dwight Powell Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this contest averaging 34.4 points per game while playing 36.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Russell Westbrook averages 27.5 points per game in 35.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 7.0 assists per contest and 8.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Kristaps Porzingis averages 19.2 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 9.5 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Luka Doncic averages 28.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.3 rebounds per contest and 8.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 118.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 22nd. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 21.5 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 14.7 per game. The Rockets allow 114.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 22nd in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.0 rebounds a game which ranks 28th and they give up 25.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas is 3rd in the league with 116.4 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 6.0. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 47.0 boards per game, and 14th in assists per contest with 24.5. The Mavericks are 28th in turnovers per game with 12.8. The Mavericks surrender 110.3 points per contest, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 7th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 23.8 assists allowed per contest and 17th with 45.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.2 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.8, and their defensive rating of 110.2 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 103.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 22nd in the NBA. The Mavericks are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 110.6, and their offensive rating of 116.7 is ranked 17th. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas +1.5

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