Kyrie Irving dropped season-high 48 points, while Dante Exum’s clutch buzzer-beating 3-pointer forced overtime, leading the Dallas Mavericks (48-30) to a thrilling 147-136 comeback victory over the Houston Rockets (38-40) on Sunday.
Luka Doncic added 37 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds to propel the Mavericks closer to securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
In a high-scoring duel, Dillon Brooks delivered a season-best performance with 29 points for the Rockets, supported by Fred VanVleet’s 24 points and 12 assists.
Despite a spirited effort, Houston succumbed to their fifth consecutive loss, following an 11-game winning streak earlier in the season, dashing their postseason hopes.
P.J. Washington (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Exum (14 points, 9 rebounds) contributed pivotal plays down the stretch, securing the victory for the Mavericks.
Jalen Green contributed 21 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. However, Houston’s early lead, which surged to 22 points in the second quarter, and a 10-point advantage in the fourth, ultimately slipped away in a dramatic finish.
