BREAKING NEWS: AFTER QUARRALING WITH HIS TEAMMATE LUKA DONCIC HAS BEING SUSPENDED FOR.....

Preview of Mavericks vs. Rockets: Three things to look out for when Dallas plays Houston.

The Mavericks are currently riding high on momentum, especially after securing consecutive victories against the Sacramento Kings, a team fighting for playoff positioning. Among NBA teams, perhaps only the Houston Rockets, with their impressive 11-game winning streak, are feeling more confident than Dallas.

Dallas now faces a challenging matchup against a rejuvenated Houston Rockets squad, particularly formidable due to their recent offensive resurgence. Over the course of their win streak, Houston has posted the second-best offensive rating in the league, trailing only the Boston Celtics. A significant contributor to their offensive prowess has been Jalen Green, who has significantly improved his three-point shooting, hitting 42.3% from beyond the arc in March. With Alperen Sengun sidelined with an ankle injury, Dallas will prioritize containing Green, especially considering his preference for above-the-break threes.

Since the trade deadline, Dallas has transformed into an interior scoring powerhouse, boasting the league’s best field goal percentage (73.6%) in the restricted area. Led by efficient big men Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford, both shooting over 78% from the field, the Mavericks have become a formidable force inside. However, Houston has also elevated its defensive game, ranking eighth in defensive efficiency and tying Dallas with a net rating of 12. The Rockets have been particularly stingy in the restricted area, holding opponents to 65.1%, although slightly behind Dallas’ impressive 63.4% mark.

Despite their youthful roster, Houston has maintained a high pace of play, ranking fifth in pace over their recent winning streak. Dallas, with its improved depth, aims to counter this by rotating fresh defenders into the game. However, given Houston’s small and fast lineup, defensive contributions from star players like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be crucial. Additionally, role players like PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., and Dante Exum must step up defensively to contain Houston’s up-tempo offense, which heavily relies on drives to generate points.