Dec

19

Nowitzki Absence Helps Rockets Beat Mavericks In OT 116-108

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Kyle Lowry (#7)

During Friday night’s game between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center, the game in and of itself was rather competitive. Then came the collision. The collision in question took place late in the second quarter between the Rockets’ Carl Landry and Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki; unfortunately for both players, they had to leave the game. That mishap bode well for the Rockets as it allowed them to extend the game into overtime. Aaron Brooks’ jumper with 1:19 in the extra period allowed Houston to beat Dallas 116-108.

The first quarter was all Dallas initially as they methodically built a double-double lead on a Shawn Marion tip-in with 2:55 left in the first quarter, but Houston would whittle their deficit down to five on a Trevor Ariza jumper with 28 seconds left in the period. At the 9:28 mark of the second quarter, Nowitzki drove the lane and missed a jumper; he was fouled by Landry, who was hit in the mouth by Nowitzki’s elbow. Landry lost some teeth while Nowitzki took some stitches for the gash on his elbow. Kyle Lowry’s jumper with 6:52 left in the half gave the Rockets the lead at 32-30 and would extend their lead to eleven before Dallas took a timeout. The Mavericks would narrow their deficit to eight at 49-41 at halftime.

Both teams traded baskets in the third quarter as both teams scored 24 points apiece and the Rockets would take a 73-65 going into the fourth quarter. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was assessed a technical along with Jason Kidd and the Rockets’ David Andersen; Lowry would make the technical free throw, putting Houston up 89-81. The Mavericks would slowly reduce their deficit until Tim Thomas drained a three-pointer, tying the game at 100-all with 10 seconds left in regulation; a 5-footer by Marion just missed, sending the game into overtime.

Josh Howard was assessed a technical foul with 3:53 left in OT and Lowry would miss the technical free throw, but Luis Scola would convert the 3-point play. Another technical foul was assessed, this time to the Mavericks’ Erick Dampier and as a result, Brooks would ice the game for Houston as he converted a three-point play with a minute left.

Lowry, from off the bench, led the Rockets’ scorers with 26 points (including three treys), 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals and a block while Brooks added 25 with 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals; Scola chipped in 19 with 10 rebounds and 5 assists while Andersen poured in 16 with 3 rebounds and an assist.

Jose Juan Barea led the Mavericks with 23 points (including 3 three-pointers), 2 e=rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while Marion and Howard added 17 each – with Marion grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists along with a steal and 2 blocks while Howard grabbed 3 boards, dished out 2 assists along with a steal and block.

Houston (15-11) plays again on Saturday when they return home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder while Dallas (19-8) continues their home stand when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.


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Comments

2 Responses to “Nowitzki Absence Helps Rockets Beat Mavericks In OT 116-108”

  1. Cut May Sideline Nowitzki Against Cavaliers Sunday » Slam Dunk Central on December 19th, 2009 8:18 pm

    [...] Saturday, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, in a collision with Houston Rockets Carl Landry, suffered a cut on his elbow when it met Landry’s mouth. Landry broke five teeth in the collision – parts of two were embedded in Nowitzki’s [...]

  2. Cut May Sideline Nowitzki Against Cavaliers Sunday | Slam Dunking on December 19th, 2009 8:25 pm

    [...] Saturday, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, in a collision with Houston Rockets Carl Landry, suffered a cut on his elbow when it met Landry’s mouth. Landry broke five teeth in the collision – parts of two were embedded in Nowitzki’s [...]

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