Carl Landry had 15 points off the bench as the Rockets held on late to defeat the Mavericks in Houston. Landry made the Rockets' final basket of the game to seal it. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)A slow start by the Dallas Mavericks (22-10) led to the Houston Rockets (20-13) leading by double-digits for the fourth time in their four meetings this season. Unlike the first two games, Dallas was unable to finish off the comeback in their fourth game in 51 days against Houston.
After a rare Shane Battier technical foul and subsequent free throw made it a 97-94 game, Jason Kidd's pump fake gave him an open look on what would have been the game-tying three with 2 seconds left in regulation. Unfortunately for the Mavs, the three-point attempt went around but not down as time expired.
"I got a great look," said Kidd, who was 7-10 from the floor for 14 points but 0-2 from behind the arc. "I might have rushed it a second. I would love to have that shot again. Give Houston credit. They won the game."
Early foul trouble for Dirk Nowitzki played a large role in the Mavericks' sluggish start. Nowitzki finished the game 3-12 from the field with 11 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.
Another strong performance from the Dallas bench, led by Jason Terry who had a team-high 20 points on 58 percent shooting, kept the Mavericks in the game. Six Mavs scored in double-figures including Drew Gooden (10 points, eight rebounds) and Josh Howard (16 points, five rebounds) off the bench as Rick Carlisle continued his use of a tight rotation - bringing only three off the bench.
Obviously losing brings about second-guessing but, with a squad as deep as this Dallas team is and with both Nowitzki and Damp in early foul trouble, isn't it a good idea to use some of that depth?
Nick Humphries, Tim Thomas, Quinton Ross, or even Rodrigue Beaubois would have been useful as some Mavericks' starters looked completely gassed at the end of this one. Jason Kidd played the entire second-half and his three at the end of regulation looked flat. Shawn Marion played 39 minutes and had his hands on his knees during crunch-time at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Zone Defense
Dallas used it almost exclusively in the second-half to get back into the game - and it worked. After allowing 56 in the first half, the Dallas defense tightened and Houston scored only 41 points in the second-half.
"The zone helped us in the second half to get back in the game," said Kidd. "We had an opportunity."
The Mavericks had nine blocks (four from Nowitzki) and nine steals in a strong defensive effort. The problem, however, is the same weakness Dallas has had the last couple of years: the water bug point-guard.
Which brings me to...
Aaron Brooks Plays His Best Games Against Dallas
Aaron Brooks has scored 20 points or more 14 times in 33 games this season. Against the Mavericks, Brooks has scored over 20 points in three of four games this season. One of Brooks two 30+ point games this year is also against Dallas: tonight's game in which he scored 30 points and went 6-12 from behind the arc. He didn't have a great shooting night (11-26), but he had the game-high in scoring and hit some clutch three's when the Rockets needed them the most.
"I'm going to go out there and play hard and shoot when I'm open," said Brooks. "Whatever happens after that, I'm going to roll with it."
For the season, Brooks averages 18 points-per-game. Against Dallas - 21.5.
The Mavericks have done a great job this season limiting the bigger guards and small forwards (thanks largely to the addition of Shawn Marion) but the smaller, lightning quick point guards still give Dallas fits.
Crazy Play Of The Night
With 10:33 left in the fourth quarter Aaron Brooks launched a three, missing off the side of the rim. Jason Terry, with two Rockets near him, tried to tip the pass to Drew Gooden. Gooden fought off a Rockets defender and, while falling out-of-bounds, saved the ball inbounds to Jason Kidd. The pass wasn't great, so Kidd is also falling out-of-bounds trying to reel it in but somehow regains possession of the ball and makes an outstanding behind-the-back pass from right next to the Mavs bench. The pass finds it's way to Shawn Marion at half-court who finds, guess who, the man who started it all - Terry in the corner for a wide open three. This trimmed the Houston lead to 80-77 and gave Mavs' fans hope that a comeback was in the works.
A very exciting play that probably should have been out on Kidd as it seemed as though he was right next to coach Carlisle as he made the play, but outstanding nonetheless.
Whats Next
Dallas is done with Houston, at least until the playoffs, after going 2-2 against the Rockets. The Mavericks seemed to get out to a sluggish start in all four meetings against the Rockets and that would have to change in the playoffs as Houston is too good to give them a cushion.
The Mavericks travel to the west-coast for the last two games of their four-game road trip. Dallas takes on the Sacramento Kings Saturday (Jan. 2) who, despite their 14-17 record, are a respectable 11-6 at home.
The Kings play the Lakers Friday night, and the Mavericks play L.A. on Sunday night so both teams will be in the midst of a back-to-back.
The Mavericks led 95-84 with 2:01 earlier in the season in Dallas but Sacramento closed strong as Dallas held on for a 104-102 victory.
Tip-off is at 9:00 p.m and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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