Houston Rockets 117 Dallas Mavericks 115-Recap

Jan 29, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Monta Ellis (11) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

7 years couldn’t have waited any longer. The Houston Rockets were able to break the Dallas curse, despite 38 points from Dirk Nowitzki, as they avoided a late game meltdown to hold on for a 117-115 win, marking their first win at American Airlines Center since the 2006-2007 season.

Playing without James Harden for the second straight night, 7 players scored in double digits. Chandler Parsons led the way for the Rockets, scoring 26 points, while Dwight Howard finished with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Jeremy Lin turned in his 2nd good performance in a row, with 18 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds. Terrence Jones also added 16 points and rebounds, while Donatas Motiejunas played key minutes off the bench, with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Rockets were in a groove offensively all night, shooting 55 percent(41-74) from the field, 43 percent(9 for 21) from behind the 3-point line and scored 56 points in the paint. Yet, the Dallas curse was not going to be that easy to break.

Houston Rockets

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

32

7-10

0-0

2-4

2

3

5

1

2

0

2

5

-2

16

39

9-17

2-6

6-9

1

3

4

5

1

0

2

5

+1

26

36

6-10

0-0

9-11

0

5

5

1

1

1

4

4

-3

21

36

3-8

3-6

2-2

0

4

4

4

1

0

5

5

-9

11

37

8-14

2-3

0-0

1

6

7

7

1

0

2

3

+1

18

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

26

4-5

0-0

4-6

4

9

13

0

0

0

1

4

+5

12

0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

12

1-3

0-1

0-0

2

0

2

2

0

0

0

1

+5

2

22

3-7

2-5

3-4

0

2

2

4

2

0

1

2

+12

11

DNP SORE RIGHT KNEE

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP BRUISED LEFT THUMB

DNP SORE LEFT KNEE

TOTALS

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   15
Points in the paint:   56
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   18 (19)

Dallas Mavericks

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3P

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

35

13-21

1-3

11-11

4

13

17

3

0

0

2

1

+6

38

29

3-10

0-1

0-0

5

2

7

1

1

0

2

3

-2

6

12

1-2

0-0

0-0

1

2

3

0

0

1

0

3

+1

2

37

2-12

2-7

2-3

1

2

3

5

1

1

0

3

+5

8

31

3-10

0-1

0-0

1

0

1

5

2

0

4

5

+3

6

BENCH

MIN

FG

3P

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

12

3-4

0-0

0-0

1

0

1

0

0

0

1

1

-3

6

10

0-1

0-1

0-2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

-12

0

24

5-9

0-0

3-3

0

5

5

0

1

1

1

3

0

13

25

5-8

0-2

4-6

0

1

1

3

0

0

1

5

-6

14

26

5-9

2-4

10-11

0

3

3

3

0

1

3

3

-2

22

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   11
Points in the paint:   50
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   14 (18)

With the Rockets up 116-104 after a Lin layup, both Motiejunas and Beverley would foul 3-point shooters on back-to-back possessions. Vince Carter then drained a 3 to cap off an 9-0 run to bring the Mavericks within 116-113. After Parsons missed a jumper with 40 seconds left, Howard was called for a loose ball foul, leading to 2 made free throws by Nowitzki to cut the lead to 2.

But the Rockets would turn the ball over on the inbounds play as Jose Calderon stole a pass in the backcourt that deflected off of Aaron Brooks. Calderon would miss 2 3-pointers on the final possession to seal the win for the Rockets.