Mavericks at Rockets
The Houston Rockets practically are toying with opponents as they streak toward the All-Star break, and they just beefed up their roster a bit more as they prepare for the stretch run. The Rockets, who are in the process of signing veterans Brandan Wright and Joe Johnson once they clear waivers, aim for their eighth consecutive win when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Houston continued its surge with an impressive 130-104 triumph over Denver on Friday, hitting 19-of-41 3-pointers while limiting the Nuggets to a 3-for-28 showing. "We can switch and we can keep the man in front," coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters of the team's recent success defending the perimeter. "Now, it's just mostly hunker down, stay in front of your man and taking away 3s and make him take hard twos." James Harden continues to pile up big numbers for the Rockets as he recorded his 21st double-double with 28 points and 11 assists against Denver. The Mavericks had their best offensive output of the season with Saturday's 130-123 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers, just their fifth victory in 2018.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (18-38): Dirk Nowitzki led six players in double figures with a season-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting - including 4-for-4 from long range - in the win over the Lakers. The 39-year-old has scored in double figures in seven straight games, two shy of matching his longest streak of the campaign, and he's hit 57.1 percent of his shots over a five-game stretch. The future Hall-of-Famer is averaging 4.5 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the two matchups - both losses - with Houston this season.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (41-13): So many of Harden's assists - as well as those of fellow guard Chris Paul - have gone into the waiting hands of Clint Capela, who produced 23 points and a career-high 25 rebounds on Friday. "Clint is huge for us. He's vital to everything we do," Paul told reporters after recording 11 points, seven assists and zero turnovers in 22 minutes against the Nuggets. Harden is averaging 27 points on 54.3 percent shooting and 10 assists in the two games against Dallas.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Mavericks SF Doug McDermott, acquired from the New York Knicks on Thursday, scored eight points in 21 minutes off the bench in his team debut on Saturday.
2. Rockets SF Trevor Ariza (hamstring) has missed six games in a row and there is no timetable for his return.
3. Houston has captured six straight matchups and 12 of the last 15.