Rockets -6.5 in Dallas, and the line keeps climbing.

The Rockets come to Dallas at 5-0, and the market has them priced as the clear favorite. Houston is -6.5 on the spread and -235 on the moneyline, with the market giving the Rockets a 67% chance after the margin is removed. Dallas sits at 33%. This is a game where the number itself tells a story before either team takes the floor.

The case for Houston is simple: the Rockets are 5-0 overall, 3-0 on the road, and 4-0 against the spread. They score 123.0 points per game and allow 108.8, and they're shooting 51.7% from the field. That's a team covering every number put in front of it, and the market has moved to respect it. The case for Dallas is that the Mavericks are 3-2 with a two-game win streak, they're 2-1 against the spread, and they've won two of the last four meetings in this head-to-head. They're scoring 114.0 per game and allowing 112.0, and they're at home, where they're 1-1. The injury report cuts both ways: Houston is without Reed Sheppard, Marcus Smart and Steven Adams; Dallas is without Tarik Biberovic, Santi Aldama, Sergio de Larrea and Dereck Lively II.

The line has moved since opening. The spread went from Rockets -5.5 to -6.5, and the moneyline on Dallas went from +164 to +195, which is sharp money on Houston. The total dropped from 227.5 to 223.5, and Dallas is 0-3 on the over/under this season. Best prices: Dallas +195 on the moneyline at BetAnything, Houston -230 at BetUS. On the spread, Dallas +6.5 at -107 at BetOnline.ag, Houston -6.5 at -110 at BetAnything. On the total, over 223.5 at -110 and under 223.5 at -110, both at Bovada.

GODDS has no pick on this game. No side reaches 70% in the model. If you have a read, the best numbers are above.