Mavericks vs. Rockets expert prediction and odds for Sunday, March 31st (Trust Dallas on road)

The Dallas Mavericks have cleared the Play-In Tournament, for now, but must keep on its winning ways to get a top-six seed come the NBA Playoffs. 

In its way on Sunday is the surging Houston Rockets, who have won 11 games in a row and are surging for one of the final postseason berths. With Luka Doncic questionable due to right knee soreness, will the Mavericks have enough firepower to keep up with the Rockets on the road? 

Here’s my full betting preview for Sunday’s Western Conference matchup. 

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Mavericks vs. Rockets Odds, Spread and Total

Mavericks vs. Rockets How to Watch

• Date: Sunday, March 31st
• Game Time: 7:00 PM EST
• Venue: Toyota Center
• How to Watch (TV): Space City Home Network, Bally Sports Southwestern
• Mavericks Record: 44-29
• Rockets Record: 38-35

Mavericks vs. Rockets Injury Reports

Mavericks Team Injury Report

• Luka Doncic, Knee, Questionable
• Josh Green, Ankle, OUT

Rockets Team Injury Report

• Cam Whitmore, Knee, Probable

Mavericks vs. Rockets Key Players to Watch

Dallas Mavericks 

Kyrie Irving: If Doncic is out, or even limited, more onus will fall on Irving, who has been up to his elite standard during the Mavericks’ recent run of fine play. Irving is averaging nearly 25 points with five rebounds and nearly six assists on 50/36/85 shooting splits while posting an average plus/minus or +13 in the team’s six-game winning streak. 

Houston Rockets 

Jalen Green: Has there been a hotter player in the month of March than Green? The 2021 No. 2 overall pick is realizing his ceiling, filling the void that the injured Alperen Sengun left, by averaging nearly 29 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting 50/42/76 from the field. Green has been the catalyst for the Rockets 11 game heater. 

Mavericks vs. Rockets Prediction and Pick

The Rockets deserve a ton of praise for this recent run, 11 game winning streaks don’t happen on accident, but I’m going to side with the Mavericks, who have the higher ceiling, and sell on Houston who has also had a relatively soft schedule of late. 

You can only beat who is on your schedule, and the Rockets have done just that, but the truth is that the team has faced three teams above .500 throughout the last 11 games. 

The teams have split the season series, but it's worth noting that Doncic nor Irving played in the team’s blowout loss in Houston in December. 

Despite the Rockets hot March, the Mavericks are also playing at a high level, sixth in net rating when compared to Houston’s third, per NBA.com. 

I’m going to trust the better team to simply get a win on the road. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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