Mavericks 111, Rockets 100
Al-Farouq Aminu contributed season highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds and Devin Harris had 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds as host Dallas put eight players in double figures while defeating Houston.
Chandler Parsons, Rajon Rondo and Charlie Villanueva scored 13 points apiece for the Mavericks, who have had eight double-digit scorers in four different games this season. Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki each scored 12 points and Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
James Harden scored 26 points for the Rockets, who were 12-of-37 from 3-point range. Trevor Ariza added 16 points and Josh Smith had 15 as Houston’s three-game winning streak against Dallas was halted.
The Mavericks held an 87-67 lead starting the fourth quarter and led by 19 with 9 1/2 minutes to play before Houston rattled off 11 straight points and moved within 92-84 on Jason Terry’s basket with 6:58 remaining. The Rockets trailed by five after Ariza’s 3-pointer with 5:05 to go before Aminu scored back-to-back baskets and later drained four free throws to help put it away.
Dallas started to create some distance with an 11-0 surge in the second quarter to take a 37-24 lead and possessed a 54-43 lead at the break. The Mavericks increased the lead to 17 on Rondo’s basket early in the third quarter but the Rockets pulled within nine on Ariza’s 3-pointer with 5:07 left in the quarter before Dallas answered with nine straight points to make it an 18-point margin late in the stanza.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Parsons departed late in the third quarter due to a sprained left ankle. … The Rockets committed 21 turnovers with Harden having six miscues and Smith making five. … The double-double was the second of the season for Aminu.