4 Trick or Treats to know before the Mavericks battle FOR THE CUP against the Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks host the Houston Rockets on Friday evening at the American Airlines Center to begin NBA Cup West Group A play. Tyler Edsel breaks down key factors for the matchup, noting that Dallas previously suffered an 18-point loss to Houston after trailing by as many as 37 points. Despite that defeat, the Mavericks have improved to a 3-2 record with a top-10 offensive rating over recent games.

Edsel highlights the threat posed by Houston's Amen Thompson, who averages 18 points and over eight rebounds per game. The writer also humorously contrasts tournament coaching backgrounds, praises the entertainment value of the NBA Cup, and stresses that Dallas must handle Houston's defense and transition play to compete.