Recap: Houston Rockets 120 – Dallas Mavericks 123

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets score 40 in the 1st quarter for the second straight night, but give up 36 points in the 4th and lose to the Dallas Mavericks 123-120. Dwight Howard had a stelar performance, and arguably one of his best performances in the NBA. Howard had 33 points, on 12-16 shooting, and 11 boards. Howard was also 9-13 from the free throw line. Unfortunately Howard was outshines by a the Mavericks of Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki. Monta lead all scores with 37 points, and 8 dimes. Dirk was right behind him with 35 points.

This is the kind of game Dwight had:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clLUQBBoYxw

Entering the second game of a back-to-back the Rockets carried over their offensive surge from last night’s game. Chandler Parsons took off in the first half shooting 4-5 from long range, but missed a key layup late in the game when the Rockets D…left Big D. Parsons finished with 21 points, a whopping 11 dimes and 4 steals. James Harden had 23 points and 8 dimes.

Houston Rockets

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

36

12-16

0-0

9-13

3

8

11

1

0

0

1

3

+1

33

33

8-13

1-3

1-1

1

1

2

2

0

0

2

2

+3

18

38

7-10

4-5

3-4

1

4

5

11

4

0

2

3

+5

21

37

3-9

3-8

0-0

1

1

2

3

4

0

2

3

-1

9

43

6-14

2-8

9-11

0

1

1

8

0

0

1

4

+3

23

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

15

5-5

1-1

0-0

1

2

3

0

1

0

1

3

-4

11

12

0-0

0-0

1-2

1

4

5

0

0

1

1

3

-4

1

17

0-5

0-3

1-2

0

1

1

4

0

1

0

1

-10

1

10

1-4

1-3

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

-8

3

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   14
Points in the paint:   56
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   13 (15)

Dallas MavericksSTARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AOREBDREBREBASTSTLBLKTOPF+/-PTSDirk Nowitzki, PF3413-202-57-716741113+635Shawn Marion, SF355-82-21-113421012-813Samuel Dalembert, C321-30-04-4281000425-56Jose Calderon, PG294-83-52-201131023-113Monta Ellis, SG4013-182-49-1202282034+237BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AOREBDREBREBASTSTLBLKTOPF+/-PTSJae Crowder, SF120-10-00-001100001+30DeJuan Blair, C161-20-00-011220014+62Shane Larkin, PG173-52-30-013422042+78Vince Carter, SG252-70-35-714552012+59Bernard James, CDNP COACH’S DECISIONGal Mekel, PGDNP COACH’S DECISIONWayne Ellington, SGDNP COACH’S DECISIONRicky Ledo, SGDNP COACH’S DECISIONTOTALSFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AOREBDREBREBASTSTLBLKTOPFPTS42-7211-2228-337293626951526123 

58.3% 

50.0% 

84.8%

Fast break points:   18
Points in the paint:   36
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   17 (20)

 Flagrant Fouls: None

Rockets clearly have yet to develop a killer instinct which takes time to build. Dallas and their veterans kicked the game into “Playoff Atmosphere” in the 4th and that level of intensity is not what the Rockets enjoy at the moment.

Omer Asik got in the game in the first quarter and played 11 minutes but failed to attempt a field goal, and scored only 1 point. Jeremy Lin also struggled, shooting 0-5, with 1 point and 4 dimes.

Omri Casspi stayed hot scoring 11 points without missing.

Rockets rest up the next two days and await Kevin Love, and the return of Kevin Martin to the Toyota Center on Saturday.