Tari Eason scores 20 as Rockets defeat Mavericks 135-117

Rockets establish separation

Houston turned its scoring bursts into a sizable cushion and defeated the Dallas Mavericks 135-117 on Friday at Venetian Arena. Tari Eason led the visiting Rockets with 20 points, while Alperen Sengun added 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Dallas was the home team.

The Rockets opened the game with a 9-0 run, with Fred VanVleet making three consecutive shots, including two 3-pointers. Dallas answered, but Houston finished the first quarter with a 27-19 advantage. Eason scored 20 points for Houston, and Sengun’s all-around production included the two listed double-digit categories.

Houston extends its lead

Houston added to its margin in the second quarter, outscoring Dallas 38-26. The Rockets moved ahead 42-26 after Sengun’s dunk, then continued to build the advantage before taking a 65-45 lead into halftime. Eason contributed a 25-foot 3-pointer late in the period.

Cooper Flagg kept Dallas involved with 19 points, including a 26-foot 3-pointer in the second quarter. Max Christie also made multiple 3-pointers during the game, and Dallas closed the half with baskets from Zaccharie Risacher and Flagg, but the Mavericks remained 20 points behind at the break.

Mavericks trim margin, fall short

Dallas outscored Houston 35-34 in the third quarter, but the Rockets still carried a 99-80 lead into the final period. VanVleet and Kevin Durant made 3-pointers during the quarter, while Reed Sheppard hit three 3-pointers. For Dallas, Naji Marshall and Max Christie supplied baskets, and Tarik Biberovic made two 3-pointers.

The Mavericks scored 37 points in the fourth quarter to Houston’s 36, but the gap remained too large. Bruce Thornton made multiple baskets for Houston late, including a 3-pointer that put the Rockets ahead 135-115. Sergio de Larrea’s layup provided Dallas’ final points.

Records

The game was played before an attendance of 11,564 at Venetian Arena. Houston left with a 1-0 record, while Dallas moved to 0-1.

Sources

ESPN