On November 26th, Beijing time, the Rockets started with a perfect opening but eventually suffered a crushing defeat, losing 99-130 to the Mavericks at home.
The Rockets (8-7) continued their pattern of alternating wins and losses, having already lost twice this season to the Mavericks. Trevor Ariza scored 20 points, while Luis Scola added 15 points and 7 rebounds. Carl Landry, coming off the bench, led the team with 24 points.
The Mavericks (11-4) avoided a losing streak. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Jason Terry hit 4 out of 4 three-point attempts for 27 points and 10 assists, Tim Thomas also made 4 threes and scored 23 points, and Shawn Marion, back in action, contributed 12 points.
The Rockets have recently been following a win-one lose-one pattern, and today they hoped to secure consecutive victories with a strong start. Unfortunately, it was short-lived as the Mavericks quickly shattered their confidence.
Ariza was very impressive early on. With 9:39 left in the first quarter, he stole the ball from Kidd and initiated a fast break, finishing with a dunk to give the Rockets an 11-2 lead. Scola followed up with two successful attempts, and the Rockets had a dream start, leading 15-2. At the 5:21 mark of the first quarter, after consecutive three-pointers by Ariza and Battier, the Rockets led 25-13.
However, the Rockets' good fortune ended there, and what followed was a nightmare. Kidd opened the Mavericks' rally with a three-pointer, and Terry hit two straight threes in the last 32 seconds of the quarter. The Mavericks went on a 23-0 run, taking a commanding 36-25 lead.
Tim Thomas hit two more three-pointers at the start of the second quarter. Over the years, Terry has always been a thorn in the Rockets' side, and once again, the Rockets could not find a way to stop him. The Mavericks grew stronger, and with 8:57 left in the second quarter, after a mid-range shot by Terry, they led 48-31, a 17-point advantage. The Rockets refused to go down without a fight, and with 2:33 remaining in the half, Ariza hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 47-60. However, Nowitzki immediately responded with consecutive baskets, extending the lead. By halftime, the Rockets trailed 51-68.
Allowing 68 points in the first two quarters, the Rockets' defense was practically non-existent, and offensively, they couldn't keep up with the Mavericks. In the third quarter, the Rockets still failed to mount an effective attack. With 4:18 left in the third, Nowitzki hit a mid-range jump shot, scoring 4 straight points, and the Mavericks extended their lead to 83-63, a 20-point gap. The Rockets valiantly reduced the difference to 12 points, trailing 77-91 at the end of the third quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Terry and Thomas hit back-to-back threes, delivering a harsh blow to the slightly resurgent Rockets. With 5:27 left in the game, Terry hit another three-pointer, and the Mavericks led 113-89, a 24-point lead. The outcome was no longer in doubt, and the Rockets substituted out their starters. Subsequently, the Mavericks also took Dirk Nowitzki and others out of the game.
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