Dallas Mavericks starting guard Jaden Hardy (back) is among five players for Friday night’s road game against the Houston Rockets. This will be the Guardian’s third straight game passing.
Other Dallas players out include Kemba Walker (left knee injury), Dorian Finney-Smith (hip), Maxi Kleber (right hip) and Josh Green (right elbow). Kleber and Green remain indefinitely. Including this match, Green has missed eight straight games.
According to several NBA betting sites, the Mavericks have the 12th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. A few sportsbooks show huge odds for the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans.
5 players for the Mavs #Rockets tonight
Dorian Feeney-Smith (right adductor strain)
Josh Green (sprained right arm)
Jaden Hardy (back pain)
Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear)
Kemba Walker (left knee, injury recovery)— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) December 23, 2022
In 9 games off the bench, Hardy is averaging 4.2 points and 7.1 minutes per game while shooting 35% from the field. In the Mavericks’ 144-115 blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls, the guard scored a game-high 15 points in 23 minutes of action.
One notable player Dallas needs is sixth-year player Dorian Finney-Smith. In 31 starts this season, the forward is averaging 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals. He is also shooting 40.1% from the floor and 34.5% from beyond the arc.
Mavericks rookie guard Jaden Hardy (back) was one of five players out against the Rockets on Friday.
Dallas is 10th in the Western Conference and has won five of its 10 games. The Mavericks are 4-1 in the last five meetings against Houston. However, they are 4-14 in their previous 18 road games. In the year On November 16, the first matchup of the season series, the Rockets won 101-92 at the American Airlines Center.
Meanwhile, the Rockets are on a four-game losing streak, having won just four of their last 10 games. Houston is 1-9 in its last 10 games against Southwest Division opponents. And the Rockets are 6-14 in their previous 20 home games. These betting trends favor the Mavericks.
Let’s finish this road trip strong.
🆚 @houstonrockets
⌚️ 7 pm CT
📺 @BallySportsSW
📻 97.1 FM and 99.1 FM pic.twitter.com/9eY9ppLEj0— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 23, 2022
Furthermore, on the Rockets’ injury report, Eric Gordon (thumb) and Ja’Sean Tate (ankle) will be out for this contest. Garrison Matthews is listed as questionable due to an illness.
According to the ESPN Basketball Power Index, the Mavericks have a 72.4% winning percentage on the road at Toyota Center. Sportsbooks show Dallas as a 7.5-point favorite despite missing several players.
