Amen Thompson scored a season-high 27 points and Alperen Sengun added 26 points with 11 rebounds as the Houston Rockets defeated the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 110-102 on Monday night at Toyota Center.
Houston improved to 4-2 after starting the season 0-2, while Dallas fell to 2-5 and played its second consecutive game without Anthony Davis, sidelined with a strained calf.
Thompson sealed the win in the closing minutes with a mix of defense and composure. After Sengun’s spin move and layup gave the Rockets a 105-102 lead, P.J. Washington missed a 3-pointer on the other end. Josh Okogie then sank two free throws to make it 107-102 with a minute left.
D’Angelo Russell misfired from deep, and Thompson split a pair of free throws before blocking a 3-point attempt by rookie Cooper Flagg. Tari Eason’s breakaway dunk finished off the Mavericks.
Washington led Dallas with 29 points and 12 rebounds, both season highs. Max Christie scored 17 points, while Flagg added 12 points and five boards in 34 minutes.
Kevin Durant finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists, shooting 6-of-18 from the field. Sengun’s inside presence and playmaking proved decisive in the paint, while Thompson’s quickness repeatedly broke down the Mavericks’ defense.
The Rockets shot 46.1% from the field and outrebounded Dallas 54-40. They overcame 17 turnovers by dominating inside, where Sengun and Eason helped Houston outscore the Mavericks 54-40 in the paint.
Dallas briefly led in the fourth quarter after Durant hit his first 3-pointer of the night, sparking a 7-0 run to make it 99-94 with just over five minutes remaining. But the Mavericks’ offense stalled late, missing six of their final eight shots.
Washington’s three-point play tied it at 99, but Houston scored the next six points and never trailed again.
The Rockets’ defense limited Dallas to 25% from beyond the arc, with Klay Thompson and Russell combining to shoot just 3-for-14 from deep.
Houston will begin a three-game road trip Wednesday in Memphis, while Dallas returns home to face New Orleans the same night.
