Tari Eason

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

The lone change to the Rockets' starting lineup for Thursday night is Okogie, who replaces Tari Eason for the second night of Houston's back-to-back. With Dorian Finney-Smith also out, Okogie may play a bit more than he usually would, raising his fantasy ceiling slightly. He still is not someone worth rostering in most leagues.

The Rockets will already be without Steven Adams, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Tari Eason, so losing Sengun would make them desperately short on big men. Of course, the Hawks will also be without their starting center, Onyeka Okongwu, so both teams could go with smaller lineups. Clint Capela would be in line to start if Sengun misses this game.

Eason played 25 minutes in Wednesday's game against the Spurs, but the plan was always to sit him for the second leg of the back-to-back. With Dorian Finney-Smith also sitting out, there should be extra minutes for Clint Capela and maybe even Jae'Sean Tate.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said that Eason will be out for Thursday's game in Atlanta due to right ankle injury management, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.