The Dallas Mavericks concluded the in-state, three-game road trip against the Houston Rockets on Friday night. The Mavericks lost to the Rockets, 133-96, at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston near the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas-Houston. Dallas fell to 33-35 and dropped two games in a row, while Houston improved to 42-25 and achieved a five-game winning streak.
Brandon Williams led the Mavericks with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Naji Marshall followed up with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kessler Edwards had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Caleb Martin scored 8 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists. Klay Thompson recorded 5 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Dallas Mavericks-Houston Rockets Recap
The Dallas Mavericks ruled out Anthony Davis with a left adductor strain, Daniel Gafford with a right knee sprain, Dereck Lively II with a right ankle stress fracture, Jaden Hardy with a right ankle sprain, Kai Jones with a left quadriceps strain, Kyrie Irving with a torn ACL, Olivier-Maxence Prosper with a right wrist sprain, and PJ Washington Jr. with a right ankle sprain.
The Houston Rockets ruled out Amen Thompson with a left ankle sprain and Reed Sheppard with a right thumb fracture. Houston’s starting lineup featured Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun. And, of course, Dallas’ starting lineup featured Dante Exum, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Kessler Edwards, and Dwight Powell.
The Rockets opened the scoring, but the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run to keep the score close in the final minutes of the first quarter. Dinwiddie buried a clutch three-pointer. The Rockets settled for a 27-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams started slow in the second quarter but picked up the pace. Eason hustled for the and-one. The Rockets took a 62-49 lead into halftime.
The Rockets’ dominance continued in the third quarter. The Rockets’ Jalen Green buried a corner three-pointer. Exum suffered a left-hand injury and didn’t return. After the game, it was announced he suffered a broken bone in his left hand and is out indefinitely. The Rockets had a commanding lead, 99-70, after three quarters. The Rockets remained dominant in the fourth quarter. Brooks threw down a rim shot as the Rockets won 133-96 in regulation.
Mavericks-Rockets Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets game featured multiple highlights, such as Thompson’s recent admission of the Mavericks’ struggles without their usual core. Thompson said, “It hurt, obviously, that Kyrie [Irving] would be out for about 10 to 12 months … Spencer [Dinwiddie] and I have been in that position. We know he’s gonna come back stronger. Or if not, at the same level that he’s been playing.”
For the Mavericks, the Mavericks’ fanbase has been expressing their disapproval of General Manager, Nico Harrison, both on and off the court. The Mavericks fans have chanted “Fire Nico” in unlikely places, such as Medieval Times, a dinner theater in Dallas. The fans have also chanted similar chants at the Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, and SMU Mustangs games.
And, for the Rockets, the Rockets’ 111-104 win over the Phoenix Suns at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night came with controversy. The Rockets’ Steven Adams and the Suns’ Mason Plumlee were ejected following a fight in the first half. The two centers locked up jostled for position in the paint, and suddenly threw each other down to the court.
Final Thoughts
The San Antonio Spurs rode De’Aaron Fox’s big night to stop the Dallas Mavericks, 126-116, at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday night. The Spurs also dominated in the rebounding department. The Mavericks struggled to turn offensive efficiency into a victory in Wednesday night’s defensive battle. The Mavericks had no choice but to settle for three of four wins in the season series against the Spurs.
The Mavericks split two games on the Spurs’ home court at the Frost Bank Center and reportedly left the Alamo City with a defiant feeling. Even with half an injured roster, Dallas is keeping the faith. Brandon Williams might be playing his way into a permanent guard job next season. Williams returned from a one-game absence and showed his value with 19 points off the bench on Wednesday night. He dealt with his first-ever hamstring injury.
The Mavericks have been on the road. The American Airlines Center was repurposed for the Mavericks’ fourth annual Girls Empowered by Mavericks (GEM) Celebration on Monday. Nearly 1,000 young women from middle and high schools across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex learned physical fitness, financial literacy, mental wellness, and education on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities.
The Mavericks will return home to host the Philadelphia 76ers in a one-game tilt at the American Airlines Center on Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. Central. The Mavericks vs. 76ers game will be broadcast on ABC as part of the NBA Sunday Showcase. The 76ers’ potential NBA Draft pick, Duke star Forward Cooper Flagg, had an injury scare in Thursday afternoon’s game in the ACC Tournament.
