Mavericks @ Kings

Saturday, 5:00 PM ET | Golden 1 Center | NBATV
Line: DAL -3.0 | O/U: 229.5 | DAL: 12-20 | SAC: 7-23

This is a hospital game. Dallas is missing Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Dante Exum (knee), and Anthony Davis is questionable with a groin issue. Sacramento's without Zach LaVine (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (MCL), Keegan Murray (calf), and Drew Eubanks (thumb). These aren't basketball teams anymore - they're skeleton crews.

Cooper Flagg has been Dallas's revelation, averaging 19.4 points per game and exploding for 30.0 in his last two outings. P.J. Washington has stepped up too with 15.6 points and 8.0 rebounds. For Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan is shouldering the load with 19.0 per game, and Russell Westbrook is averaging 14.4 points with 7.2 assists.

Dallas is on a five-game road losing streak, but Sacramento's been allowing 122+ points while only scoring 112. The Kings are 3-1 in the last four head-to-head meetings, but both teams are in such disarray that this feels like a coin flip. The under might be the play here - neither team has the personnel to put up points consistently.

Lean: Under 229.5

Cavaliers @ Rockets

Saturday, 8:00 PM ET | Toyota Center | SCHN
Line: HOU -5.5 | O/U: 232.0 | HOU: 18-10 | CLE: 17-15

Houston's been a monster at home - they're 8-2 at Toyota Center, and Kevin Durant has found his groove with the Rockets, averaging 25.2 points per game. Alperen Sengun is questionable with a calf issue, but when healthy he's been dominant (22.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 6.8 APG). Amen Thompson has been the surprise, leading scorers with 26 points against the Lakers.

Cleveland's dealing with injuries of their own. Max Strus and Larry Nance Jr. are out, and Evan Mobley just returned from missing six games. He might not be 100%, which is a problem against Houston's frontcourt. Donovan Mitchell has been carrying the load (30.7 PPG), and Darius Garland is averaging 20.0 over the last ten, but the Cavaliers are just 4-6 in that stretch.

The Rockets won the first meeting 114-104 on November 20th behind Sengun's 28-point performance. Fred VanVleet is out for the season with an ACL tear, but Houston has adapted well. Cleveland is 6-7 on the road, and they're walking into a hostile Toyota Center environment. Houston's trying to extend a three-game home win streak.

Lean: Rockets -5.5