Game ID: 22400460
Dallas Mavericks @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 24 37 28 21 110DAL 30 22 23 24 99
DAL @ HOU ScoutingDAL @ HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 28 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 11 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (57% of 12)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 9 min since (57% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (88% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 3 min since (23% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 29 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 4 min since (30% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 7 min since (57% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 30 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 18 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 12 min since (109% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 40 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 31 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (116% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 32 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 33 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (40% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 29 min (250% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 41 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 34 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 37 min since (116% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Tate 11 to 17 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 35 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
HOU availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 36 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 32 min since (102% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (167% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 6 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 14 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 30 min since (83% of 36)
BACK Marshall back 12/10 after 4, 22 min since (81% of 28)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 15 min since (82% of 19)
BACK Edwards back 12/10 after 4, 3 min since (19% of 15)
DAL availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 7 since 12/07, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 16)
OUT Williams missed 15 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 17 min since (92% of 19)
DAL availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 16 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 1 min since (6% of 16)
DAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 17 since 11/22, returns tonight: 20 min (132% of 15)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 9 min since (56% of 16)
DAL availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 20 min (88% of 23)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 13 min since (81% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 20 min since (132% of 15)
NEW Kleber 19 to 25 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 23)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 28 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/06 · 2 days' restOUT Marshall missed 4 since 12/28, returns tonight: 33 min (118% of 28)
OUT Edwards missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 24 min since (103% of 23)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 17 min since (106% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 14 min since (94% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 27 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT Irving missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 3 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/06 after 4, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 27 min since (116% of 23)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 11 min since (72% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Hardy 16 to 21 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Irving missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 4 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/06 after 4, 31 min since (111% of 28)
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 25 min since (108% of 23)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 9 min since (60% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Hardy 16 to 22 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eason (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Irving at 31 and Washington at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight), Lively II (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-9 and the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, Dallas 109, Dallas keeping it close.
12/23 @ CHA 114-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-101. HOU shot 43% (43 of 99) to CHA's 42%, 13 of 42 from three. The glass went 60-44 for them. Smith Jr. led with 21 (7 of 14, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); VanVleet added 20, Thompson 19. The hinge was Q1, 31-15: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/26 @ NOP 128-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 128-111. HOU shot 47% (46 of 97) to NOP's 43%, 18 of 47 from three. The glass went 54-44 for them. J. Green led with 30 (12 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Whitmore added 27, VanVleet 25. The hinge was Q1, 39-22: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 30. J. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/27 vs MIN 112-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 112-113. HOU took 9 more shots (92 to 83), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to MIN's 51%, 10 of 30 from three. Sengun led with 38 (16 of 25, 6 of 10 at the line); Thompson added 20, VanVleet 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 5-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. They led by as many as 16.
12/29 vs MIA 100-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 100-104. HOU took 13 more shots (97 to 84), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to MIA's 44%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 28. Brooks led with 22 (8 of 20, 5 of 12 from three); Green added 19, Sengun 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 3-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 76-68 against them. They led by as many as 12. Thompson's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 vs DAL 110-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 110-99. HOU shot 47% (42 of 89) to DAL's 53%, 8 of 25 from three, and went to the line 23 times to DAL's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 8. HOU turned it over 12 times to DAL's 20. Sengun led with 23 (9 of 16, 5 of 8 at the line); Green added 22, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-22: HOU came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 18. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/03 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (7 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Tatum at 26 a game. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Houston 113, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
1/05 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/07 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sarr at 16 and Brogdon at 14 a game. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Holmes (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight), Eason (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Washington's 122 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 16 times a game to Houston's 11. Call it Houston 114, Washington 111, Washington keeping it close.
1/09 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Aldama (6 straight), Smart (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 26 and Sengun at 19 a game. Without Smith Jr. (3 straight), Eason (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Houston's 10 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 121. Call it Memphis 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
12/25 vs MIN 99-105 — DAL notes
DAL lost 99-105. DAL shot 41% (36 of 87) to MIN's 47%, 16 of 43 from three. Irving led with 39 (14 of 27, 5 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Dončić added 14, Thompson 12. Q4 was theirs, 31-15, the deficit cut from 22 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 90-68 against them. Grimes's -10 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 @ PHX 98-89 — DAL notes
DAL won 98-89. DAL shot 44% (35 of 80) to PHX's 39%, 12 of 34 from three. Irving led with 20 (6 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Gafford added 16, Kleber 15. The hinge was Q2, 27-14: a lead of 3 became 16. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/28 @ POR 122-126 — DAL notes
DAL lost 122-126. DAL shot 48% (43 of 89) to POR's 50%, 15 of 38 from three. The glass went 40-50 against them. Irving led with 46 (16 of 26, 5 of 12 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Dinwiddie added 17, Gafford 15. Q4 was theirs, 40-29, the deficit cut from 15 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 97-82 against them. Irving's -17 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 @ SAC 100-110 — DAL notes
DAL lost 100-110. DAL shot 42% (32 of 76) to SAC's 42%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 19 — 24 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 36-58 against them. Dinwiddie led with 30 (8 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Washington added 28, Grimes 11. Q1 was theirs, 37-23, but the other 3 periods went 87-63 against them. They led by as many as 18. Grimes's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 @ HOU 99-110 — DAL notes
DAL lost 99-110. DAL shot 53% (40 of 75) to HOU's 47%, 11 of 28 from three, and got to the line 16 times to HOU's 23. DAL turned it over 20 times to HOU's 12, and HOU turned those into 17 steals. Grimes led with 17 (6 of 13, 2 of 7 from three); Irving added 16, Thompson 16. Q1 was theirs, 30-24, but the other 3 periods went 86-69 against them. They led by as many as 10. Gafford's -27 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 30 and Dinwiddie at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, Cleveland at 44 percent from three to Dallas's 38. Call it Cleveland 115, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
1/06 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Morant (4 straight), Aldama (5 straight), Smart (7 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 27 and Grimes at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Marshall (4 straight), Edwards (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-8 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the defense, Dallas allowing 114 a night to Memphis's 125. Call it Memphis 119, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.
1/07 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 16 and Grimes at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (2 straight), Edwards (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 28 a game. Without Vincent (4 straight), Vanderbilt (29 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-1 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 12. Call it the Lakers 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/09 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Washington at 18 and Grimes at 17 a game. Without Irving (3 straight), Edwards (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Avdija at 19 a game. Without Grant (5 straight), Thybulle (36 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 115, Portland 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DALDG D. Gafford
DL D. Lively II
DP D. Powell
JG J. Gortman
JH J. Hardy
KI K. Irving
KT K. Thompson
MK M. Kleber
OP O. Prosper
PW P. Washington
QG Q. Grimes
SD S. Dinwiddie
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
SA S. Adams
DAL/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Rockets beat the Mavericks 110-99 to snap a 2-game skid
HOUSTON -- — Alperen Sengun had 23 points, Jalen Green added 22 and the Houston Rockets built a big lead early in the second half and sailed to a 110-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Dillon Brooks had 19 points and Cam Whitmore added 18 to help the Rockets get back on track after dropping two straight.
The Mavericks led by four midway through the second quarter before Houston used a 21-8 run to take a 61-52 lead into halftime. Green made eight points in that stretch and Whitmore added two 3-pointers.
The Rockets then opened the second half with an 11-4 spurt that pushed it to 72-56 with nine minutes left in the third.
Houston was up by 14 entering the fourth and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the quarter.
Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Klay Thompson (illness) and Dereck Lively II (hip) returned after sitting out Monday. But Naji Marshall remained out serving a four-game suspension for his role in a fight against the Suns.
Quentin Grimes led the Mavericks with 17 points off the bench. Thompson and Irving added 16 each.
Takeaways Mavericks: Lost for the third time in four games playing without Luka Doncic , who strained his calf on Christmas Day. They’ll need to find a way to win without the star, who will be out at least a month.
Rockets: Didn’t miss a beat without the bench scoring of Amen Thompson , who served the first of a two-game suspension for a fight with Miami’s Tyler Herro Sunday night.
Key moment Houston’s 32-12 run to end the first half and start the second half.
Key stat Houston’s victory was helped by making 18 of 23 free throws compared to just 8 of 16 by Dallas.
Up next Both teams are back in action Friday night. Dallas hosts Cleveland, and Houston hosts Boston.