Despite a slump in the previous weeks, the Dallas Mavericks managed to start winning as they dethroned the Houston Rockets 122-109 after coming off a blowout loss at Oklahoma City.
Anthony Davis dropped 29 points with 14 of 19 from the field, a night after making just one of nine shots in their last game against the Thunder.
On the other hand, Rockets superstar Kevin Durant scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half but ended up not playing in the fourth quarter after the Mavericks outscored Houston 37-20 in the third and took a 21-point lead early in the fourth.
Although the game ended in the first half, Cooper Flagg had 19 points, and one of his three assists came from Ryan Nembhard, which contributed to a 98-77 lead.
Mavs guard Brandon Williams contributed 20 points as backup for Nembhard, who had 11 points and seven assists.
After injuring his right ankle during pregame warmups against the Clippers, P.J. Washington came back with consecutive dunks during a 14-0 run in the third quarter and finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five steals.
Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 points and Aaron Holiday 19, contributing significantly, considering Alperen Sengun’s absence on both nights of a back-to-back due to an illness.
The Mavericks look forward to maintaining their momentum when they face the Brooklyn Nets, while the Rockets aim to bounce back against the Clippers on Friday.
