Doncic scores 39, Mavs rally for 111-106 over Houston



Doncic scored 39 and the Mavs scored 111-106 over Houston<br />













































Houston, January 3 (BNA): Luka Doncic scored 39 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as Dallas came from an 18-point deficit in the second half to beat the Houston Rockets 111-106 Monday night for the Mavericks’ seventh straight win.


Doncic scored 29 of his points in the second period to lead the comeback. He finished 10-of-26 from the field, including 1-of-9 on 3-pointers and hit 18-of-22 from the free throw line, AP reports.


“I wasn’t worried in the first half, I just needed to be more aggressive,” said Doncic. “That’s what I did in the second half. In the first half, I was negative, and it didn’t go well for us.”


Doncic has scored at least 32 points in each of his last six games, including three 50-point games over that span.


“Winning is always great,” said Doncic. “The energy in the dressing room is amazing, so winning seven in a row is good, but we want more. I think we played very poorly today, but great teams come back and win games.”


Christian Wood added 21 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 for Dallas, who have their longest winning streak since the 2010-11 season.


“Winning seven (in a row) in this league, it’s not easy to win this league, it’s easy to lose in this league, but it’s hard to win,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who was a player in 2010-11. Team.


The Mavericks shot 42%, including 13 of 43 three-pointers.


Kevin Porter, Jr. scored 25 points, Jalen Green added 20, and Eric Gordon scored 19 for the Rockets, who lost their fourth straight and seventh consecutive home loss.


“We were getting our shots,” Porter said. “There was a couple missed plays, but that’s what happens. It’s been a long game. It’s the fourth quarter, we’re trying to run, we’re trying to get shots, but it just doesn’t turn our way.”


Alperin Sengun, who missed Friday’s loss to the Knicks with lower back pain, scored 16 points. Houston kills 46%.


“I thought we did a good job with him throughout the game,” Houston coach Stephen Silas said of the defense against Doncic. “The problem was the fouls. I don’t have enough money to be fined, so I’ll stop there.”


Trailing 100-93 at the halfway point of the fourth, Dallas answered with a 14-4 lead by three points on a jumper by Hardaway with 2:55 2 remaining.


Houston cut the lead to one after a layup from Porter with two minutes left in the game, but after getting lost in putts, Spencer Dinwiddie made a jumper with 10 seconds left to put it up to 109-106. Singon missed two free throws, and Doncic grabbed the rebound. Doncic was fouled and made two free throws to freeze the game.


After a slow first half in which he scored 10 points on 3 of 12 shots, Doncic caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 19 points as the Mavs cut Houston’s lead from 18 points to 87–83 at the end of the quarter on Doncic’s three-point play.


Tip-ins


Mavericks: Dinwiddie scored 11 points. The Mavs converted Houston’s 10 turnovers into 14 points. Josh Green (right elbow sprain) and Dorian Phinney Smith (right adductor strain) remained out of the lineup.


ROCKETS: Jay Sen Tate (right ankle) is “coming close,” Silas said, adding that he’d like to see Tate go through five-on-five training before he comes back. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 11 points.


Rocket rebuild


After postgame comments from Gordon on Friday that he hadn’t noticed any improvement from the Rockets since the start of the season, Silas said he and Gordon spoke on Monday and they know each other’s situation.


“Rebuilding is hard,” said Silas. “It’s hard for everyone. It was frustrating. I don’t necessarily agree with the way he went, but I understand his frustration.”


Next


Mavericks: Host the Celtics on Thursday.
Rockets: Fly to New Orleans on Wednesday.

































































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