Dallas Mavericks look for big back-to-back win tonight

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets on December 8, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets on December 8, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dallas Mavericks are ready to take on the Houston Rockets tonight in Houston after a big win yesterday afternoon over the Portland Trail Blazers. Can they win a back-to-back over two playoff opponents?

For the third time this season, the Dallas Mavericks are preparing to face off against the Houston Rockets. In the first two meetings, the Mavericks caught the Rockets by surprise and took them down both times. The first one on November 28th was a 128-108 home win for the Mavs, while the second on December 8th, in a tight 107-104 victory.

The most recent game between Dallas and Houston may have been the first big game towards the legend of Luka Doncic. Overall, the game was fairly quiet for Luka. Despite already having a 30-point game earlier in the season, only Mavs fans were really sold on him before this game. That would change in the 4th quarter.

With only 10 points through the first 45 minutes of the game, the Rockets likely thought that they had effectively shut down the young rookie and that victory was within sight. An 8-point lead with less than three minutes to go tends to give a team confidence. Then, with 2:49 to go, Luka hits a three. 40 seconds later, he hit another one.

Then, 30 seconds later, Luka drove through the lane for a floater. This bucket marked 8 straight points for Luka and the Mavs and tied the game at 102-102. Almost 40 seconds later, after yet another stop, Luka hit one more three to make it 11 straight, give the Mavs the lead and put his name in the history books. The Mavs overcame the 8-point deficit and won 107-104.

This was one of the most incredible stretches of basketball I have ever seen. In 1:51 of game time, Luka put together a comeback for the ages essentially single-handedly. You can bet that the Rockets remember this game well.

Since that day, the Rockets have been one of the best teams in the league with a 21-9 record and James Harden scoring over 30 points in 29 consecutive games (would be 31, but was one point short the game after the Dallas game).

On the other hand, the Mavs have made a lot of changes since that game, trading away 4 of their starting 5 and holding a record of 13-18 since that night. They have won 3 of their last 4 and 6 of the last 9. Luka has been the hot hand throughout all of it.

The Mavs and Rockets will tip-off tonight at 7:00 central time in Houston and the game will be televised nationally on NBATV.

Schedule