Rockets seize control with second-quarter surge
The Houston Rockets established early dominance and maintained it throughout, defeating the visiting Dallas Mavericks 128-110 at the Toyota Center on Wednesday. The game’s defining stretch occurred in the second quarter, where Houston outscored Dallas 38-12 to turn a tight contest into a comfortable lead that the Mavericks could not overcome.
Key performances define the result
Kevin Durant led all scorers for Houston with 30 points. He was supported by strong playmaking from Fred VanVleet, who recorded 11 assists. In the frontcourt, Alperen Sengun controlled the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds.
For Dallas, rookie Cooper Flagg was the top performer, scoring 32 points. Naji Marshall facilitated the offense with six assists, while Zaccharie Risacher contributed six rebounds.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
The first quarter was highly competitive, with the teams trading baskets until Houston pulled ahead 32-26 by the end of the period. The Mavericks' defense tightened significantly in the second quarter, holding Houston to just 12 points while scoring only 26 themselves? No, the score progression shows Dallas scored 26 and Houston scored 38 in the second. The quarter ended with Houston leading 70-52.
