Houston at Dallas Recap
Only one game?
By Holly MacKenzie
There was only one game on the NBA schedule last night and that was the match up between the Dallas Mavericks (2-1) and the Houston Rockets (3-0). While the Mavs suffered a loss to the Hawks in their second game this season, the Rockets have been hot straight out of the gate. McGrady seems more focused than years past and it will be exciting to watch and see if he will keep it up. The game last night did not disappoint, as it was back and forth until the fourth when the Mavs pulled together and pulled it out. In the match up between Tracy McGrady and last years MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, it was McGrady who continued his scoring binge and came out looking superior for most of the game. In fact, the person who overshadowed McGrady was not Nowitzki, but 6th man for the Mavs, Jason Terry. Yes, this season is only in the earliest of stages, but if McGrady can keep this level of play up, this may be the year he breaks out of the first round. While it is definitely too soon to expect anything, this year’s Houston team is exciting to watch.
Unfortunately, I was not able to catch the game. The power on my street was off for oh, just over 5 hours last night and man did that suck. I ended up stealing wireless from someone, but because the game was being shown on NBATV, I couldn’t even watch it with the online league pass option. I was stuck clicking refresh on ESPN’s live stats.
Dallas 107 Houston 98
In a game that was close from opening tip until the final minutes, Jason Terry led the way as the Dallas Mavericks went on a late run to hand Houston it’s first loss of the season, 107-98. At the half, Houston was up by one, 51-50. While Tracy McGrady was on his way to another big night and Yao Ming was right behind him, Dirk Nowitzki was struggling on the offensive end for Dallas. It was Terry, the first man off of the bench whom the Rockets didn’t have an answer for as time and time again he came down and stuck it to the Rockets. He finished with 31 to pace the Mavs in a close contest until the final minutes. At the end of the third and beginning of the fourth, Terry scored 10 straight for Dallas to bring the Mavs from five down to up one. Once things started to get down to the wire, Terry led a 14-4 Dallas run, where Nowitzki finally managed to get some shots to fall. After going 5-17 from the floor for the game with just under five minutes remaining, Nowitzki knocked down 2 huge shots on the Dallas run to take control of the game and pull away for good. While Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavs flourished when it mattered the Rockets faltered and were outscored 30-23 in the final quarter. McGrady finished with a game-high 35 points but it took him 31 shots to do so as he shot only 12-31 from the floor. Josh Howard had 21 points for the Mavericks who also got 19 from Nowitzki. Desagana Diop had a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards for Dallas who finished the game outrebounding Houston 43-38. Yao Ming had a double-double of his own for Houston scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Outside of McGrady and Yao, Houston did not have any other scorers in double figures. Jerry Stackhouse made it 5 players in double-figures for Dallas, as he contributed 16 points. The Mavs were without point guard Devin Harris who missed his second straight game with a bruised thigh.
40 Responses to “Houston at Dallas Recap”
Nov.6 at 9:23 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
Also, Josh Howard sprained his ankle.. more info should be available sometime today. For those who did catch the game, did it look bad?
Nov.6 at 9:28 am
Russ Bengtson says:
The Mavericks should never outrebound the Rockets, should they? I didn’t watch, though.
Nov.6 at 9:37 am
white hot eboy says:
Holly, you have an incredibly uncanny knack of writing game notes, even while not seeing the game with your own eyes, and making it seem like you took it in first person. Amazing.
Nov.6 at 9:45 am
The infamous DP says:
Wow. Who knew that Mr. Diop would be killing the way he is early in the season. I know he’s not scoring that many points but he gets it done with rebounds and blocks. If this cat can ever get an offensive game set, he will be pretty decent. play wit it.
Nov.6 at 9:46 am
Joel O's says:
Don’t think this really says that much yet about how good Houston may be; I think they’re still in the midst of getting their pieces together cohesively. On the flip side, this is the same Dallas machine of the last two years. Can’t wait to see how good this Rockets team can get… and Mike James seems to be their instant scoring guy off the bench, which is something he’s pretty suited for.
Nov.6 at 9:51 am
white hot eboy says:
Holly, any luck on getting a name for your column yet. What about something short and too the point that doesn’t involve you name and is a play on words about what you’re doing, “The Post-Up”? Forget it, don’t mind me, I just got to work and my breakfast order from the Cuban place down the street was wrong.
Nov.6 at 9:58 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Today might be the day for the DIT-Mac post, I think. Before his back gives out. Again.
Nov.6 at 9:59 am
Bryan says:
That would be a good read Russ.
Nov.6 at 10:00 am
white hot eboy says:
I’m still waiting on the Iverson marathon masterwork, Russ. I have a feeling Russ just jinxed T-Mac, too.
Nov.6 at 10:12 am
Russ Bengtson says:
T-Mac’s long as hell, too. I’m annotating it right now.
Nov.6 at 10:14 am
white hot eboy says:
Will be waiting while I finish my bulls*it breakfast. Fuc*ing carne asada empanadas, pollo, POLLO!!!!!
Nov.6 at 10:18 am
Bryan says:
I just gonna put this out there in case sam is reading.If you didn’t like Heroes last night, you have problems.
Nov.6 at 10:26 am
Cheryl says:
Man, I missed the game and Heroes! I’m freelancing these days and my clientele is picking up big time, forcing me to work most evenings as well. Anway, who cares, right? Holly, thanks for the game notes. I hope TMac’s chiropractor really has performed miracles. I do want to see him reach at least the second round.
Nov.6 at 10:30 am
white hot eboy says:
Missed Heroes, too. Son’s sick, has a cavity and was as cranky as Bodie after New Kids On The Block broke up. Then I turned on that garbage football game and caught the beginnigs of the Dal/Hou game and fell asleep without seeing completion of almost everything. I did see the end of I Love New York 2, so you know it was a bad night.
Nov.6 at 10:32 am
Bryan says:
I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to date that crazy ass girl if they weren’t getting famous for it. I put the over/under at 5 years for a New York sex tape.Which is horrifying.
Nov.6 at 10:32 am
Bryan says:
Heroes was badass last night.
Nov.6 at 10:36 am
Cheryl says:
I’ll catch the last 2 episodes online. Ah, the wonders of technology…
Nov.6 at 10:37 am
white hot eboy says:
Figures the night I miss it, they show out. The rest of this season was similar to watching the current Heat team perform.
Nov.6 at 10:40 am
white hot eboy says:
Nerds. Oh, I’m talking about myself too. Dammit!
Nov.6 at 10:42 am
Bryan says:
No Kristen Bell though =(
Nov.6 at 10:50 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
Heroes was good. One twist I saw coming a month ago. Another twist I most definitely did not! The Parkman/Molly relationship is still waaaaay too close for comfort.
Nov.6 at 10:51 am
Bryan says:
I picked up the Adam thing off top.
Nov.6 at 10:57 am
Bryan says:
One game just doesn’t cut it , get it together NBA schedule makers.This isn’t all star weekend.
Nov.6 at 11:07 am
riggs says:
umm why no mention of how good JJ barea has been?
Nov.6 at 11:17 am
Bryan says:
There has to be something to talk about jesus…
Nov.6 at 11:20 am
white hot eboy says:
What about the dude on the Steelers that was Ray Lewis better than Ray Lewis ever was in one single game?
Nov.6 at 11:33 am
Bryan says:
I didn’t watch the game I checked in and saw 35-7 or something and I just shook my head .F*ck the Ravens.
Nov.6 at 11:37 am
Russ Bengtson says:
I refuse to watch Monday Night Football until it’s back on network television where it belongs. ESPN’s football announcers are THE worst.
Nov.6 at 11:47 am
Bryan says:
Monday night football won’t overtake Heroes, for me anyway.I do like Kornheiser on PTI though how bad is he?
Nov.6 at 12:25 pm
Steve O says:
The dude who was a beast for the Steelers is James Harrison,. He is Joey Porter’s replacement and had one of the best defense games I have seen in awhile.
Nov.6 at 12:29 pm
Steve O says:
As for last night, I thought the Rockets looked really good through the first 1 1/2 quarters. They were playing good D, creating turnovers and getting easy buckets. After that Dallas really stepped it up on both ends to get back into and win that game. Riggs is right too JJB is killing right now.
Nov.6 at 12:56 pm
Slim says:
Chuck Hayes had an amazing offensive game, but his careless fouls cost the Rockets
Nov.6 at 2:04 pm
d1n says:
note diop’s 10 points were a career high (3rd time)
Nov.6 at 2:53 pm
RV says:
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Yao only had 12 shots last night, as well as tmac has played he still takes too many 3’s in situations that call for an easy basket or free throws, Yao still is the most efficient and as well as he’s done getting off quick shots this year he should get at least 20 shots a game
Nov.6 at 2:55 pm
RV says:
Slim, I dont remember what fouls Hayes was called for, so i dont know if you’re kidding, but I do know he only had 4 pts, so i hope you really are kidding
Nov.6 at 3:00 pm
RV says:
No mention about Barea because he’s only had 1 good game, he was solid on another, but the other 2 he did nothing, he’s a good player but there isn’t a lot to talk about yet
Nov.6 at 5:43 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
tmac for mvp.
Nov.6 at 6:20 pm
jonny says:
just wait until dampier gets back.. BEST C IN THE LEAGUE
Nov.6 at 11:57 pm
RV says:
Yao gets 24 shots and they beat the Spurs
Nov.7 at 8:59 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
thanks for the love Eboy. I started watching Heroes season 1.. i’ve been officially sucked into the madness.