Sports

Dallas Mavericks (19-29, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (29-17, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas faces the Houston Rockets after Cooper Flagg scored 49 points in the Mavericks' 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Rockets are 5-5 against division opponents. Houston is 11-3 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.4 turnovers per game.

The Mavericks are 3-6 against Southwest Division opponents. Dallas is 7-11 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Rockets average 116.1 points per game, 0.6 fewer points than the 116.7 the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks average 114.2 points per game, 4.2 more than the 110.0 the Rockets give up.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Mavericks won the last meeting 110-104 on Jan. 4, with Anthony Davis scoring 26 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Durant is averaging 26.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.

Flagg is averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 109.4 points, 49.3 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 9.2 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.

Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.4 points, 46.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.9 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Dorian Finney-Smith: day to day (injury management), Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).

Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Naji Marshall: day to day (rest), Anthony Davis: out (hand).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (28-18, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (11-34, 14th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -8.5; over/under is 229.5

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles heads to Washington for a non-conference matchup.

The Wizards have gone 8-15 at home. Washington gives up 122.3 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.1 points per game.

The Lakers are 16-10 on the road. Los Angeles is 13-16 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Wizards score 112.2 points per game, 4.3 fewer points than the 116.5 the Lakers allow. The Wizards average 115.9 points per game, 6.4 fewer points than the 122.3 the Wizards give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alex Sarr is averaging 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Wizards. Tre Johnson is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Luka Doncic is averaging 33.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 22.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 1-8, averaging 107.7 points, 44.0 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 9.6 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.4 points per game.

Lakers: 5-5, averaging 115.9 points, 40.9 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad), Marvin Bagley III: day to day (thoracic).

Lakers: Austin Reaves: day to day (calf), Adou Thiero: out (knee), Luka Doncic: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago Bulls (23-25, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (26-23, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago comes into the matchup with Miami as losers of three in a row.

The Heat have gone 13-13 against Eastern Conference teams. Miami has a 14-14 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Bulls are 15-17 in conference matchups. Chicago ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 17.6 fast break points per game led by Coby White averaging 3.5.

The Heat's 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Bulls give up. The Bulls are shooting 47.6% from the field, 1.5% higher than the 46.1% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 30 the Heat won 116-113 led by 21 points from Norman Powell, while Ayo Dosunmu scored 23 points for the Bulls.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bam Adebayo is shooting 44.5% and averaging 18.0 points for the Heat. Simone Fontecchio is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. White is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 6-4, averaging 121.3 points, 49.2 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.3 points per game.

Bulls: 5-5, averaging 118.7 points, 43.6 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: day to day (shoulder).

Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: day to day (hamstring), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.