Mavericks’ Comeback Effort Falls Short as Early Woes Doom Them Against Rockets

Mavericks fall to Rockets 108-102 after slow start and fourth-quarter rally. Dončić, Irving shine late, but fouls and rebounding issues prove costly in Dallas' homestand opener.

Photo via Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks opened their five-game homestand with a frustrating 108-102 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. Early foul trouble, rebounding issues, and offensive miscues kept them playing from behind. Despite a strong fourth-quarter rally led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, Houston escaped American Airlines Center with the win.

The Mavericks’ struggles began immediately as early fouls and missed defensive assignments allowed Houston to establish momentum. Dallas shot just 8-of-21 in the first quarter and 2-of-12 from beyond the arc, with Dončić finishing with 29 points, scoring only 6 points in the opening period.

“I’ll take the blame because I’ve got to do better than that,” Dončić said. “I know I can do it. I just have to focus and play my game.”

Meanwhile, the Rockets capitalized on Dallas’ errors with a balanced offensive attack. Jalen Green led Houston with 23 points and 12 rebounds, setting the pace for his team early. Dillon Brooks added to Houston’s first-quarter push with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while Şengün controlled the boards with 17 points and 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. By the end of the first quarter, Houston had built a 34-21 lead, leaving Dallas on the back foot.

“We’re out here hacking them,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “There’s smart fouls and there’s bad fouls, and we got a ton of bad fouls. It’s early in the season, but it’s not the referees; it’s us. We’ve got to be better.”