5 Things Dallas Mavericks fans should root for, 5 to root against to close season

5. Against: Houston Rockets making the Play-In Tournament

Before the Dallas Mavericks played the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, they were the hottest team in the NBA. The Rockets had won 11 games in a row and were performing at a high level without star center Alperen Sengun.

The Rockets are now two games back from the Golden State Warriors and the No. 10 seed, but Dallas Mavericks fans should be rooting against the Rockets to end the season. Houston plays no threat to knocking the Mavericks off as the top team in the state right now, but Dallas fans shouldn't want to see them gain any momentum.

The Rockets have plenty of young talent, and they could be a team that continues to rise in the division standings over the next few years. Their combination of youth and experience is underrated, and they have some pieces to make some noise sometime in the near future.

Dallas plays the Rockets one more time this season (on Sunday), and they could end up ending their Play-In hopes for good depending on how Golden State plays down the stretch. The in-state rivalry between Dallas and Houston will always remain, but the Mavs staying as far ahead of the Rockets is ideal.

The Mavs are 2-1 against the Rockets this season, and their chance to cement the season series win is on Sunday.