Mavericks
Mavericks' Bench and Fast Break Bury Rockets 132-115 in Macao
The Mavericks beat the Rockets 132-115 in a preseason game at Venetian Arena in Macao, avenging a 135-117 loss to Houston two days earlier. Dallas pulled away with a 37-point third quarter and got 66 points from its bench, while Houston shot just 41.1% from the floor and 14-of-47 from three. Both teams are 0-0, and the result has no bearing on the regular-season standings.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 10 d ago01The story of the nightA tight game that broke open in the thirdDallas led 28-27 after one quarter and 58-51 at the half, a seven-point edge built on 12 lead changes.
Dallas led 28-27 after one quarter and 58-51 at the half, a seven-point edge built on 12 lead changes. The separation came in the third, when the Mavericks outscored Houston 37-34 to go up 95-85, then closed it out with another 37-30 fourth. Dallas's biggest lead was 19 points; Houston's largest was only 7, and the Rockets never found the stop they needed to answer the third-quarter run.
02Top performersKyrie Irving led Dallas with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Zaccharie Risacher added 16, and bench scorers Naji Marshall and Max Christie each had 14, with Christie going 2-of-3 from three. Cooper Flagg filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists despite a cold 3-of-10 shooting night. For Houston, Marcus Smart scored a game-high 20 on 7-of-13 shooting with 4 threes, Reed Sheppard had 17 on 4-of-10 from deep, Amen Thompson posted 14 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 9 rebounds.
03Where it was wonDallas controlled the paint 50-40 and ran away on the break, 24 fast-break points to Houston's 11.
Dallas controlled the paint 50-40 and ran away on the break, 24 fast-break points to Houston's 11. The bench gap was the biggest number on the sheet: Mavericks reserves scored 66 against the Rockets' 45. Houston turned it over 21 times against Dallas's 16, and the Mavericks turned those giveaways into 32 points off turnovers compared to Houston's 23. Dallas also moved the ball better, 28 assists to 19, while out-rebounding nobody — Houston actually won the boards 58-53.
04What it meansThis was a preseason exhibition in Macao, China, so both teams start the real season at 0-0 and nothing here affects…
This was a preseason exhibition in Macao, China, so both teams start the real season at 0-0 and nothing here affects the standings. For Dallas, the bench production from Marshall, Christie and Sergio de Larrea, plus Flagg's 7 assists, are the kind of signs coaches want before the opener. For Houston, the concern is the shooting: 41.1% from the field and 14-of-47 from three against a team that shot 48.2% and hit 15 threes of its own.
A-
A
C+