Which team’s dynamic duo will play bigger in the game between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks on July 30? Will it be the Rockets’ MVP tandem of James Harden and Russell Westbrook? Or will it be the Euro bros of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis? Check out our preview of this game below.
It looks like the Rockets are going to have their MVP tandem ready to play right out of the gate of the NBA restart down in Orlando. James Harden and Russell Westbrook have already played in scrimmages, which means their availability for the Dallas game is trending nicely. The Rockets were struggling just before the season got interrupted, as they lost four of their last five games, but after a long rest, they should have ridden themselves of any bad energy from that forgettable stretch. When the Rockets defeated Dallas at home last January, 128-121, they rode the backs of Harden and Westbrook, who had 35 and 32 points, respectively. With a small lineup and a starting unit that’s missing a legitimate center, the Rockets relied on their outside shooting (21 3-pointers to 17 by Dallas) and speed (+10 in fastbreak points) to prove that they don’t have to go big to beat teams like the Mavericks.
The Rockets, who are averaging 118.1 points per game, are 7-3 straight-up in their last 10 meetings with Dallas.
Betting on the Dallas Mavericks (-1)
Regular Season Record: 40-27
The initial goal for the Mavericks before the 2019-20 NBA season was to make the playoffs. They are in a position to accomplish that mission, thanks in large part to the exploits of Luka Donic and Kristaps Porzingis. Powered by that duo, the Mavericks’ offense has been incredible this season. They entered the Orlando bubble third in the NBA with 116.4 points per game and fifth with a 54.8 effective field goal percentage. And though they lost the last time they met Houston, the Mavericks didn’t have Doncic then due to an injury. In that game, the Mavericks were led by Porzingis, who put up 35 points and 12 boards. Porzingis is a matchup problem for the massively undersized Rockets, so the Latvian unicorn can be expected to put up great numbers. Doncic played the first game against Houston this season, wherein he exploded for 41 points with five 3-pointers in a decisive 137-123 win on the road last November.
