DALLAS – The 3s were missing. James Harden could not get his final drive to fall. The final seconds were leading to a last shot with the Rockets' winning streak on the line.
It had to end with defense.
After a game in which the Rockets struggled in just about every way, the Mavericks closed to a last chance for the win, only to have Chris Paul swat Jalen Brunson's jumper, securing a 94-93 win against the Dallas Mavericks, giving the Rockets an eight-game winning streak the hard way.
James Harden's streak of 43-consecutive games leading the Rockets in scoring ended, with Harden scoring just 20 points, just six in a second-half interrupted by foul trouble.