Mavericks score 132 to beat Rockets 115 as Marcus Smart has 20 points

Dallas sets the pace

The Dallas Mavericks scored 132 points Sunday and defeated the Houston Rockets 132-115 at Venetian Arena, where 11,711 attended. Marcus Smart scored 20 points for Houston, which played at home, while Kyrie Irving scored 17 points for Dallas. The Mavericks led after each quarter and finished with a 17-point victory.

Dallas opened with a 28-27 edge after the first quarter. The Mavericks then outscored Houston 30-24 in the second to take a 58-51 lead into halftime. Houston cut into the deficit early in the third quarter, moving in front 66-64, but Dallas closed the period with a 37-34 scoring advantage and led 95-85 entering the fourth.

Fourth-quarter separation

The Mavericks added another 37 points in the final quarter while Houston scored 30. Dallas extended its lead through the period, moving from 99-94 to 114-103 and then to 121-105. Houston continued to score late, but Dallas maintained control before the final margin reached 132-115.

Smart’s 20 points led the Rockets’ listed scoring totals. Amen Thompson had six assists for Houston, and Jabari Smith Jr. recorded nine rebounds. For Dallas, Irving’s 17 points were the listed team-high scoring total, while Cooper Flagg had seven assists and Sergio de Larrea collected seven rebounds.

Records

The result left both teams with 1-1 records. Dallas finished the game with 132 points to Houston’s 115, matching the quarter-by-quarter progression of 28-27, 58-51 at halftime, 95-85 after three quarters and 132-115 at the final horn.

Sources

ESPN