Houston plays Dallas on 5-game home skid
Dallas Mavericks (19-18, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (10-28, 15th in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Houston aims to end its five-game home losing streak with a victory against Dallas.
The Rockets are 1-3 against Southwest Division teams. Houston is 5-20 against opponents with a winning record.
The Mavericks are 7-2 against opponents from the Southwest Division. Dallas scores 105.1 points while outscoring opponents by 1.2 points per game.
The two teams matchup for the second time this season. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 116-106 in their last matchup on Oct. 27. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 26 points, and Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Wood is shooting 46.9% and averaging 16.3 points for the Rockets. Gordon is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Houston.
Tim Hardaway Jr. averages 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Mavericks, scoring 14.1 points while shooting 32.9% from beyond the arc. Jalen Brunson is averaging 19.4 points and 6.9 assists over the last 10 games for Dallas.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 2-8, averaging 111.6 points, 40.8 rebounds, 21.8 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.
Mavericks: 6-4, averaging 106.5 points, 41.7 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.0 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: DeJon Jarreau: out (health and safety protocols), Usman Garuba: out (health and safety protocols), Armoni Brooks: out (health and safety protocols), Alperen Sengun: out (ankle).
Mavericks: Boban Marjanovic: out (health and safety protocols), Kristaps Porzingis: out (health and safety protocols), Willie Cauley-Stein: out (personal), Trey Burke: out (health and safety protocols), Isaiah Thomas: out (health and safety protocols).
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