NBA League Pass: Rockets vs Mavericks - Game of the Day (8:30 ET)

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Are you ready for a Halloween showdown in the Lone Star State? Get prepared with these five key things to know about the upcoming matchup between Dallas and Houston on Thursday night (8:30 ET, NBA League Pass):

1. Mavericks face an up-and-coming roster

Expectations are high for the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks in 2024-25 after the team came up short in the 2024 Finals. T

he Rockets took major strides last year, improving their 22-60 in 2022-23 to 41-41 in Ime Udoka’s first season as head coach. Houston is 2-2 to start its 2024-25 campaign with the goal of reaching the playoffs.

2. Luka Dončić is looking for his first MVP

At just 25 years old and a five-time All-NBA First Team selection, Dončić is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. Given Dončić’s potential for future MVP awards, will this be the season he claims his first? The Slovenian superstar is off to a hot start in 2024-25, notching a 40-point game and two double-doubles already.

3. Klay Thompson in Dallas

The Splash Brothers era in Golden State came to end with Thompson joining the Mavericks this offseason. Dallas hopes that Thompson, a four-time champion with the Warriors, will give the Mavs a significant boost in their quest for an NBA title. While age and injuries have cost Thompson a step, he’s still one of the greatest shooters in league history and has averaged 19.7 points per game as part of a high-scoring trio with Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

4. Is Jalen Green breaking through?

Selected second overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Green has shown flashes of promise but has yet to fully take a leap. That could change this season, though, with

Green averaging 28.8 points through four games so far. He’s also making 41.3% of his 3-pointers and his

strong start to the season suggests a potential breakout year.

5. Houston’s backcourt must rise to the challenge

Last season, Dončić was a problem for the Rockets, shooting 56% from the floor and averaging 41.6 points in three games against Houston in 2023-24. The addition of Thompson for Dallas will put even more strain on Houston’s backcourt defense. Green, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks will need to raise their game tonight to keep a lid on Dallas’ attack.