Late in the third quarter against the Tuesday night the were drifting. After a back-and-forth first half that saw the Mavs lead by as much as 13 points, the home team coughed up their four-point halftime lead and were stagnating. The young and scrappy Rockets, who entered the night with the best rated defense in the league, were playing aggressive and created some separation as they neared the four quarter. And then Kyrie Irving asserted himself.
With 1:11 remaining in the third the Mavericks were down 84-75, after managing just four points in the three and a half minutes prior, with Houston going on a mini-run.