The Dallas Mavericks enter Thursday’s home game with momentum on the back of four consecutive wins and Tuesday’s historic triple-double of 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists by Luka Doncic, a perennial NBA All-Star guard and MVP front-runner.
What can Doncic do for an encore against Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green and the rest of a young Rockets squad that is wrapping up a three-game road trip? That’s what we’ll find out in the second of three games over a 10-day span between the in-state, divisional rivals.
Doncic went for 50 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds when Dallas won at Houston last Friday, and he’ll undoubtedly look to repeat that feat as the Rockets pay their return visit to North Texas.
Then again, Doncic admitted to considerable fatigue after his historic game Tuesday against New York, which could lead to some tired legs against the Rockets.
It’s also worth noting Houston played the Mavericks close until the final seconds in last week’s meeting, and Porter is playing some of his best ball of the 2022-23 season to date. He’s averaging 29 points (55% FG, 44.4% on 3-pointers), 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 1 turnover in 37.3 minutes on Houston’s current road trip.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 29
- Time: 7:30 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (10-24)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Eric Gordon
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Dallas Mavericks (19-16)
- Guard: Luka Doncic
- Guard: Spencer Dinwiddie
- Forward: Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Forward: Christian Wood
- Center: Dwight Powell
Projected lineups are based on each team’s prior game, with the exception of Gordon starting for Houston in place of KJ Martin. Martin started over Gordon on Tuesday in Boston as part of Gordon’s planned maintenance on half of all back-to-backs. The Rockets are not on either end of a back-to-back Thursday, so Gordon should play.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness) as out, but the Rockets are otherwise healthy. The Mavericks will be without Dorian Finney-Smith (right adductor strain), Josh Green (right elbow sprain), and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring strain). Reggie Bullock is questionable for Dallas with a non-COVID illness.
