Rockets Power Past Mavericks: Stellar Performances by Green and Sengun

In a thrilling showdown, Jalen Green’s 23-point, 12-rebound performance, along with Alperen Sengun’s double-double, propelled the Houston Rockets to a riveting 108-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Despite a late Mavericks’ surge, the Rockets managed to maintain their grip on the game.

Rockets Maintain Steady Lead Despite Mavericks’ Late Charge

The Rockets were comfortably leading by 23 points late in the third quarter, but the reigning Western Conference champions, the Mavericks, managed to whittle Houston’s lead down to a mere three points with just a minute left on the clock. Additional contributions to the Rockets’ victory came from Dillon Brooks and bench player Tari Eason, who scored 17 and 15 points respectively.

Mavericks’ Efforts Fall Short Despite Doncic’s Impressive Performance

Despite their late rally, the Mavericks fell short, with Luka Doncic’s 29-point display, including 15 fourth-quarter points, not enough to secure victory. Kyrie Irving added 28 points, while Klay Thompson was the only other Maverick to reach double figures, contributing 12 points to the team’s effort.

Rockets Outshine Mavericks in Field Goal Attempts and Rebounds

The Rockets, who held the third-highest average in the NBA for field goal attempts per game at 94.5, increased their tally to 97 shots in this game, while the Mavericks managed 85 attempts. Additionally, Houston dominated on the boards, outrebounding Dallas 50-37, largely due to the Mavericks’ center duo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively being hampered by foul trouble.

Key Moments and Stats

Doncic provided a glimmer of hope for Dallas when he sunk a 3-pointer with 1:08 left on the clock, bringing the Mavericks within three points of the Rockets. However, Houston’s Amen Thompson quickly quashed this momentum with a smooth fadeaway jumper just 43 seconds before the final buzzer. A significant factor in the Mavericks’ downfall was their poor shooting from downtown in the first half, where they managed a mere 2 successful shots from 12 attempts.

Upcoming NBA Action

In terms of what’s next, the Rockets look forward to a three-game homestand, kicking off against the Warriors on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will begin a home back-to-back series starting with a Sunday showdown against the Magic.