The Houston Rockets (15-5) roll into Dallas to confront the Mavericks (8-16) in a heated I-35 rivalry game that could ignite the Southwest Division race. Houston, perched atop the West at No. 2 with a scorching 4-1 run in their last five, aims to extend their dominance over a Mavericks squad clinging to the 12th seed and nursing a 3-2 stretch amid a brutal injury toll. The Rockets’ balanced attack (6th in offensive rating at 115.8) will probe Dallas’ shorthanded defense (23rd, allowing 118.2 PPG), while the Mavs’ home cooking (5-6 at American Airlines Center) and Luka Dončić’s wizardry could force a slugfest. With Houston favored heavily on the road and Dallas desperate for a statement win sans key pieces like Kyrie Irving, this intrastate battle shapes up as a high-stakes test of depth, grit, and three-point fire—expect fireworks from the arc, where both teams rank top-10 in attempts.
Game Information
Tipoff: 8:30 PM ET (5:30 PM PT)
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas (Capacity: 21,000; Home of the Dallas Mavericks since 2001, located at 2500 Victory Ave in the Victory Park district; iconic for its video board and electric Southwest fanbase)
Broadcast: Space City Home Network (Rockets), Bally Sports Southwest (Mavericks), NBA TV national; Streaming on NBA League Pass; Radio on 97.1 FM The Freak for Mavs fans
Officials: To be announced (NBA assigns crews 24 hours prior)
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | Home/Away Split | ATS Record | O/U Record |
| Houston Rockets | 14-5 (.737) | 10-3 West | 7-2 Home / 7-3 Away | 11-7-1 | 9-10 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 8-15 (.348) | 6-8 West | 5-6 Home / 3-9 Away | 9-13-1 | 12-11 |
Houston leads the Southwest Division by 1.5 games over San Antonio, while Dallas fights to stay above .500 at home.
Recent Team Forms
Houston’s road warriors (7-3 away) have feasted on efficient shooting (49.2% FG in wins), but turnovers (14.2 per game) loom as a Dallas trap. The Mavs have clawed back with three wins in five, leaning on Dončić’s usage (34.8%) amid frontcourt chaos.
Houston Rockets (4-1 in last 5 games):
Dec 3: W 121-95 vs. Sacramento Kings (dominant; 52.3% FG, held Kings to 39.2%)
Nov 30: W 129-101 @ Utah Jazz (blowout; 52.9% FG, 11 threes)
Nov 26: W 104-100 @ Golden State Warriors (gritty road W; Jalen Green 28 points)
Nov 24: W 114-92 @ Phoenix Suns (defensive clinic; 13 threes, +22 rebound edge)
Nov 21: L 109-112 vs. Denver Nuggets (heartbreaker; blew late lead despite 38.9% 3PT)
Rockets average 115.4 PPG (7th) but allow 104.6 in wins; road form: 7-3, 6-4 ATS.
Dallas Mavericks (3-2 in last 5 games):
Dec 3: W 118-108 vs. Miami Heat (comeback; Dončić 35 points, 12 assists)
Dec 1: W 131-121 @ Denver Nuggets (upset; 55.8% FG, 16 threes)
Nov 29: W 114-110 @ Los Angeles Clippers (clutch; +4 rebound edge, 28.2% 3PT but timely)
Nov 28: L 119-129 @ Los Angeles Lakers (outgunned; 48.4% FG but 11 turnovers)
Nov 24: L 102-106 @ Miami Heat (edged; 39.2% FG, poor from deep at 30%)
Mavs score 116.8 PPG lately (11th) but yield 114.8; home: 5-6, 5-6 ATS.
Injury Report
Injuries have gutted Dallas’ rotation, particularly the backcourt and bigs, forcing small-ball lineups. Houston misses its floor general but has frontcourt depth. Latest NBA injury report as of December 5, 7:30 PM ET (updates at shootaround):
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Rockets | Fred VanVleet | PG | OUT | Right ACL tear | June 2026 |
| Rockets | Tari Eason | PF | OUT | Right oblique strain | Dec 20 |
| Rockets | Dorian Finney-Smith | SF | OUT | Left ankle sprain | Jan 1 |
| Rockets | Isaiah Crawford | SG | OUT | G League two-way | N/A |
| Rockets | Steven Adams | C | QUESTIONABLE | Left ankle soreness | Dec 6 |
| Mavericks | Kyrie Irving | PG | OUT | Right knee ACL repair | TBD (season-long) |
| Mavericks | Dante Exum | SG | OUT | Right knee injury | Dec 12 |
| Mavericks | Dereck Lively II | C | OUT | Left foot injury management | Dec 6 |
| Mavericks | P.J. Washington | PF | OUT | Right ankle sprain | Dec 6 |
| Mavericks | Daniel Gafford | C | QUESTIONABLE | Right ankle sprain | Dec 6 |
VanVleet’s absence (18.5 PPG, 8.1 APG) elevates Amen Thompson; Dallas without Irving (25.6 PPG) burdens Dončić further, with Gafford’s status key for rim protection.
Key Player Matchups
Dallas’ depleted depth amplifies Houston’s transition edge (9th in fast breaks), but the Mavs’ switchable wings could disrupt pick-and-rolls. Backcourt duels define the pace (both ~100 possessions).
Jalen Green (Rockets SG, 23.1 PPG) vs. Klay Thompson (Mavericks SG, 18.2 PPG): Green’s explosiveness (1.3 SPG) tests Thompson’s off-ball movement (39% 3PT). If Thompson sags, Green’s drives (55% at rim) punish; Mavs allow 36.8% opponent threes.
Luka Dončić (Mavericks PG, 33.9 PPG, 9.2 APG) vs. Fred VanVleet (OUT; sub: Amen Thompson, Rockets PG, 14.3 PPG): Dončić’s heliocentric style (usage 35%) vs. Thompson’s length (1.1 SPG). Without VanVleet, Thompson’s on-ball pressure could force 4+ turnovers—Dončić’s averaged 3.8 TO lately.
Alperen Şengün (Rockets C, 21.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG) vs. Daniel Gafford (Mavericks C, QUES., 11.0 PPG): Şengün’s post craft (58% FG) exploits Gafford’s iffy mobility (1.2 BPG). If Gafford sits, Mavs go small—Houston ranks 4th in paint points (54.2).
Cooper Flagg (Mavericks SF, rookie, 16.4 PPG) vs. Dillon Brooks (Rockets SF, 12.7 PPG, 1.0 SPG): Flagg’s versatility (rookie-leading 7.2 RPG) challenges Brooks’ tenacity. Flagg’s hit 69% FG in spots; Brooks held wings to 41% last week.
Bench: Mavs’ Quentin Grimes for shooting vs. Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr.
Series History
The rivalry tilts Houston’s way all-time, but Dallas has split recent tilts evenly (average total: 218.4 points). Over 202 regular-season games:
All-Time Record: Rockets 106-96
At American Airlines Center: Mavericks 53-46
Last 10 Meetings: Split 5-5
Recent Results:
Nov 3, 2025: Mavericks 102-110 @ Rockets (Houston’s home W; Şengün 29 points)
Mar 14, 2025: Mavericks 96-133 @ Rockets (Rockets rout)
Feb 8, 2025: Mavericks 116-105 vs. Rockets
Jan 1, 2025: Mavericks 99-110 @ Rockets
Oct 31, 2024: Mavericks 102-108 vs. Rockets
Rockets 6-4 ATS in last 10; Overs in 4 of 7 (avg. 224.6 points).
Betting Trends
Rockets 8-2 SU in last 10 vs. Southwest foes.
Mavs 3-7 SU as home dogs; 5-5 ATS lately.
Under hit in 6 of Rockets’ last 9 road
Game Odds
Houston Rockets – 8.5
Dallas Mavericks 224.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
