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Recap: Rockets vs. Mavericks - 11/22/2014

The Rockets defense thwarted the Mavericks' comeback attempt as James Harden led Houston to a 95-92 win.

Coming into the game, The Rockets led the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 94.6 points per 100 possessions to their opponent. The Mavericks, on the other hand, led the NBA with 111.3 ppg.

The Rockets were again without Dwight Howard (knee) and Terrence Jones (leg) and took their offensive attack outside. Patrick Beverley opened both halves with a 3-pointer on his way to a career-high 6 3PTM.

“We did a great job of moving the ball the entire game. We got kind of lackadaisical in the 3rd and 4th quarter, but we did a great job of moving the ball in the first two quarters. I was in the right position at the right time,” Beverley said.

The Rockets buried 13 3-pointers in the first half (compared to just two for Dallas) and James Harden banked one in at the buzzer for a 9-point lead as both teams hit the locker room.

The Rockets built a game-high 18-point lead early in the third, but Dallas responded with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to single-digits heading to the fourth.

In the fourth, the Rockets could not buy a bucket. They went just 8-40 FG in the second half and let the Mavericks retake the lead with just over five minutes left.

Though the offense struggled, the Rockets locked in on defense. Dirk Nowitzki was held to just 4-18 FG, including 0-8 FG, and Chandler Parsons was shut down in his homecoming with just 3-9 FG, 0-5 3PTM.

James Harden got it done on both ends, hitting an and-1 layup to give Houston the lead with seconds remaining, then getting a block on the ensuing Mavs’ possession.

“Defensively I just try to lock in. I think everybody did a great job of locking down no matter if we were making shots or not of continuing to hold them. We got some key plays down the end on the offensive end,” Harden said.

Harden finished with a game-high 32 points and has sealed the last 3 consecutive Rockets victories with a bucket with less than 90 seconds remaining.

Donatas Motiejunas also came through with his third career double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“You know we lost two in a row. We didn’t play the way we were supposed to play against Lakers at the end of the game. We kind of lost control today too in the end, but everyone is happy that we found a rhythm and got it back and we won this one. We had two losses in a row, right now this one brings us back on track,” Motiejunas said.

The Rockets next face the New York Knicks at Toyota Center on Monday.