Mavericks End Road Trip 1-3 After Turnover-Plagued Loss Against Rockets
Turnovers and injuries plagued the Mavericks in a 110-99 loss to the Rockets, as Dallas dropped their third game in four outings despite key players returning.
HOUSTON — The Dallas Mavericks arrived at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night, hoping to close their four-game road trip on a high note, but ended 1-3 with a 110-99 loss against the Houston Rockets. Dallas aimed to build momentum with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II returning to the lineup.
Dallas has scored 100 or fewer points in four of its last five games since Luka Dončić's injury, who will be sidelined for at least most of January with a left calf strain. Naji Marshall served his third game of a four-game suspension for getting into an altercation in Phoenix with Jusuf Nurkić. Danté Exum remains out as he recovers from right wrist surgery, further thinning the rotation.
Irving and Thompson each scored 16 points, while Quentin Grimes led the team with 17 points off the bench. Lively II contributed eight points, six rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. Dallas struggled to handle an elite defense that swarmingly attacked Irving, preventing him from setting the tone.
Houston capitalized on 20 Dallas turnovers, scoring 22 points off those mistakes, while the Mavericks struggled to find consistency on either end. The Rockets made 18 of 23 free throws compared to Dallas’ 8 of 16, further widening the margin.
“Turnovers. We just turned the ball [over], we had 20 turnovers. If you’re not getting shots against Houston, it’s going to be tough,” head coach Jason Kidd said postgame. “I thought we started the game off right, but then in that first half we sent them to the free throw line a lot. We fouled a lot, especially in that first quarter.”
Fast Start Fades
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