Mavericks start slow, beat Rockets
Mavericks 121, Rockets 103
Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard reacts after making a shot in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Dallas on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
(Mike Fuentes - AP)
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009; 11:14 PM
DALLAS -- Jason Terry scored 24 points, Erick Dampier had 14 points and 20 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks overcame an early 17-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 121-103 on Tuesday night.
The Mavericks went on a 22-3 run that started late in the first half and helped them bounce back after a sluggish start.
Dampier recorded the eighth 20-rebound game of his career, Terry was 7 for 8 from the field, and Dirk Nowitzki added 23 for Dallas, which scored at least 120 for the second straight game.
Houston's Aaron Brooks had 22 points, Carl Landry scored 19 and David Anderson added 13.
The Rockets jumped ahead thanks its highest-scoring first quarter of the season and were up 56-39 midway through the second.
Dallas took the lead for good as the Rockets hit only 5 of 22 shots in the third quarter.
After closing the first half on a 10-0 run, the Mavericks grabbed their first lead since the opening minutes at 65-64 on Nowitzki's step back jumper.
Howard capped the surge with consecutive baskets that put Dallas on top 69-64.
Behind Jose Barea's eight points over the final 2 1/2 minutes of the third, the Mavericks stretched their lead to 83-74.
Dallas outscored the Rockets 26-13 in the third, Houston's lowest scoring quarter of the season.
The Rockets got no closer than eight in the fourth quarter, and the Mavericks' lead swelled to as much as 22.
The Mavericks have averaged 119 points over their past three games, including 129 in a blowout win over Toronto on Saturday.
Brooks hit his first five shots and scored 14 points in the first quarter, staking the Rockets to a 37-28 lead. The Houston point guard hit two free and a 3-pointer to start the second to push the advantage to 12.
Anderson hit a short jump hook that put Houston ahead 56-39. That's when Dallas started its comeback.
The Rockets went scoreless over the final 3:04 of the opening half, and Nowitzki closed with two straight baskets to bring Dallas within 61-57 at halftime.
NOTES: Rockets coach Rick Adelman remained tied for 11th on the all-time wins list with 864. He is even with Jack Ramsay, who gave Adelman his first job as an assistant in 1983. ... F Drew Gooden (strained rib cage muscle) returned after missing four games. ... Dampier grabbed eight rebounds in the third.
