HOUSTON – Christian Wood will be back in familiar territory Friday night at 7 when the Dallas Mavericks face the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
Before he was traded to the Mavs on June 24 in exchange for Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Sterling Brown, Marquese Chriss and the draft rights to Wendell Moore Jr., Wood spent nearly two seasons with the Rockets. Houston acquired Wood in a sign-and-trade – he signed a three-year, $41 million contract — with the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 24, 2020 for Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart, a second-round pick and cash considerations.
Wood had the best moments of his career while wearing a Rockets’ uniform. That includes scoring a career-high 39 points during a 115-97 victory over the Washington Wizards last March 21.
In the 2020-21 season, Wood averaged a career-high 21 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Rockets. And last season he averaged 17.9 points and a career-high 10.1 rebounds for Houston.
So far this year, Wood is averaging 17.2 points and 8.1 rebounds and has become an important weapon for the Mavs.
The Rockets defeated the Mavs in Dallas, 101-92, on Nov. 16 in a game Luka Doncic didn’t play. Wood finished that contest with 26 points and eight rebounds.
*Tim Hardaway Jr. is ranked second on the Mavs’ all-time list for making five or more three-pointers in a game with 38. First on the list? Luka Doncic with 48 such games.
*Jalen Green leads the Rockets with 21.3 ppg. Green also has been attacking the baskets more in recent weeks. During his first 14 games this season, Green averaged 4.1 free throw attempts per contest. But over his last 17 games he’s averaged 7.1 free throw attempts per contest.
*Spencer Dinwiddie has scored 15 or more points in 21 of the 31 games he’s played in this season. That includes scoring 20 points last Monday against Minnesota and 19 points this past Wednesday against the Timberwolves.
*Kevin Porter Jr. has been a model of consistency for the Rockets. So far this season, Porter is averaging 18.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 5.6 apg. He also scored a season-high 31 points and added six rebounds, five assists and three steals, and converted five three-pointers in this past Wednesday’s 116-110 home loss to Orlando. Porter joins James Harden and Chris Paul as the only Rockets to collect at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and five made three-pointers in a game.
*In Wednesday’s 104-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic came up one rebound short of a triple-double. He finished that game with 25 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. For his career, Doncic has racked up 52 triple-doubles. All of the other players who have played for the Mavs have combined for just 40 triple-doubles.
*Rockets center Alperen Sengun is averaging 14.4 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Sengun picked up his ninth double-double of the season on Wednesday when he had 13 points and 12 rebounds – along with six assists – in the game against Orlando. As a rookie last season, Sengun finished the year with just eight double-doubles.
*This is the final game of a four-game road trip for the Mavs before they return home and square off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Before that game a statue unveiling for Dirk Nowitzki will be held on the American Airlines Center plaza at 11 a.m.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (16-16) AT HOUSTON ROCKETS (9-22)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
TV: Bally Sports Southwest
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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