Luka Doncic matched his career high with nine 3-pointers and finished with 47 points as the visiting Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak to seven games, beating the Houston Rockets 125-107 on Sunday.
Doncic added 12 rebounds and seven assists for Dallas (45-29), which led by as many as 29 and snapped the Rockets’ 11-game winning streak. Doncic was 18-of-30 shooting from the field and 9-of-16 from 3-point range.
Houston (38-36) shot 42.4 percent from the floor, including 13-of-38 (34.2 percent) from 3-point range. The loss was just the second in 15 games this month for the Rockets.
Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, Dante Exum added 13 and P.J. Washington had 12 for Dallas, which has won 11 of its last 12 games. The Mavericks shot 24-of-47 (51.1 percent) from 3-point range.
Jabari Smith Jr. matched his career high with five 3-pointers and led Houston with 28 points. Aaron Holiday scored 16 points, Cam Whitmore put up 13, Jalen Green added 12, Jock Landale had 11 and Fred VanVleet chipped in 10 with seven assists.
Doncic set the tone early and scored 22 points in the first quarter to help put Dallas ahead 36-24. Doncic was 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc in the period with eight rebounds and four assists.
Doncic finished the first half with 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Mavericks, who held a 66-45 advantage at intermission after closing on a 19-8 run.
Dallas made 13 of 24 (54.2 percent) from 3-point range for the half and limited Houston to 34.9 percent shooting from the field and 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) from beyond the arc.
Houston closed the third quarter on a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to 91-73, but the Mavericks quickly regained control to squash the Rockets’ comeback hopes.
Mavericks forward Dereck Lively II exited the game in the third quarter with a right lower leg injury and did not return.
–Field Level Media
