Houston and Dallas went back-and-forth throughout the entirety of this game as neither team was ever able to hold much of an advantage. The game was tied at the start of the fourth quarter, and after falling behind, the Rockets went on an 11-0 run to surge past Dallas and take control of the game. The Mavs were unable to recover from that point on as Houston grabbed the easy victory.
The Rockets now lead 2-0 as the series heads to Dallas.
Key Stat:
The Mavericks' couldn't get over the hump despite their cold shooting, as that ultimately proved to be the reason they lost. Dallas shot just 37.1 percent from the field, including 27.3 percent from three-point range.
Houston MVP:
James Harden took care of business (24 points, six assists), and Dwight Howard pitched in a double-double (28 points, 12 rebounds).
However, Josh Smith stole the show in the second half and recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists off the bench.
Dallas MVP:
Monta Ellis carried the Mavs with his outstanding offensive performance as he dropped 24 points. Dirk Nowitzki didn't shoot particularly well from the floor (3/14), but he still chipped in a big double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
What's Next:
The Rockets and Mavs now head to Dallas for the next two contests in this series. Game 3 is Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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