NBA: Sunday's plays

Play: San Antonio -1 -102

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Reasoning: Houston won the first matchup this season, but the Spurs were without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in that one. Both will play here and although Tony Parker won't, he's had a great replacement in Cory Joseph. In the past two games Joseph has averaged 17.0 points (on 13-of-16 shooting) and five assists. Joseph is averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his last nine contests. Dwight Howard disappeared in Friday's game, scoring just six points on four FG attempts. The Rockets shoot a ton of threes, but they are below average in three-point shooting percentage and San Antonio doesn't allow many perimeter attempts. Houston also is below average in overall shooting and on free throws and the Spurs are above average in all shooting categories. San Antonio's bench scores nearly twice as many points as the Rockets' bench.

 

Play: Dallas -4 -105

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Reasoning: I think the key here will be Dallas' new point guard Rajon Rondo. He scored a season-high 21 on Friday on 10-of-17 shooting and totaled eight rebounds and seven assists. He is averaging a league-high 10.5 assists. He also should guard Russell Westbrook, who will have to carry the load with Kevin Durant out. Durant (ankle) practice yesterday but there is no timetable for his return to game action. Westbrook has done a remarkable job with Durant out (he's scored 25 or more points in 11 straight games), but he's due for an off night. The Thunder are 1-8 vs. Top 10 teams. The Mavericks average a league-best 109.4 points and shoot 47.8 percent from the floor - second-best in the league. OKC is below average in all shooting categories and has the weaker bench.


Record: 231-176-8 (56.8%)
Bankroll: +126.86%