GameDay: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks

Rockets at Mavericks

7:30 tonight, American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN/103.3 FM, ESPN/1540 AM (Sp.)

Records: Rockets 51-24; Mavs 46-29

About the Rockets: Along with Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Rockets guard James Harden is one of the top candidates to capture this year’s MVP award. Harden scored a career-high 51 points in Wednesday’s 115-111 victory over Sacramento and was averaging 27.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.9 steals entering the game. ... The Rockets have won eight of their past 10 games. ... Center Dwight Howard (knee) returned March 26 after missing 26 games. ... Former Mavs guards Corey Brewer (11.6 points, 26.2 minutes) and Jason Terry (6.8 ppg, 21 mpg) have been factors for the Rockets.

About the Mavericks: For the fourth consecutive time and in every matchup this season, Dallas will be playing the Rockets on the end of a back-to-back set. ... The Mavs are 9-6 in the second game of back-to-backs. ... The Mavs are 1-2 against the Rockets this season, with the home team winning all three games. The Mavs lost in Houston 95-92 on Nov. 22 and 99-94 on Jan. 28. Eight players scored 10 or more points as the Mavs beat the Rockets in Dallas 111-100 on Feb. 20. ... This is the opener of a three-game homestand that continues Saturday against Golden State and ends April 8 against Phoenix.

— Dwain Price

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 8:11 PM with the headline "GameDay: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks."