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Without McGrady, Rockets lose again
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-23 14:42
DALLAS - Dirk Nowitzki hit the go-ahead basket with six minutes left and
finished with 31 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to their sixth straight
victory, 102-93 over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
Houston Rockets guard Derek Anderson (8) and
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, (41) from Germany, reach for a
rebound in the fourth quarter of their game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 22,
2005. [AP] | Nowitzki's
12-foot turnaround jumper put the Mavericks ahead to stay after the Rockets,
again playing without Tracy McGrady, erased a seven-point deficit in the fourth
quarter and tied the game at 86-all. About a minute later, Nowitzki hit a
3-pointer to make it 92-87.
Playing for the first time since beating previously undefeated Detroit by 37
points Saturday night, when they scored 40 points in the first quarter, the
Mavericks got off to a poor start against Houston.
Even with McGrady missing his second straight game (and fifth this season)
because of a strained back, Houston never trailed in the first half. The Rockets
led 50-38 with 2:48 left in the first half, before Jason Terry sparked the
Mavericks (8-2) with 12 of his season-high 29 points in the spurt that finally
pushed Dallas to its first lead.
Josh Howard had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who are 5-0 at
home this season and have won 14 straight regular-season games at American
Airlines Center. Avery Johnson is 13-0 at home since replacing Don Nelson as
head coach last March.
Rookie Luther Head had 28 points and Yao Ming 20 for the Rockets (3-8), who
came in averaging an NBA-low 84 points a game.
Derek Anderson added 19 points, his 3-pointer giving
Houston a 50-38 lead with 2:48 left in the first half.
Terry then scored eight of Dallas' final 10 points before
halftime, with a 3-pointer, a steal and a driving layup in a 14-second spurt,
and helped get the Mavericks within 53-48.
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