(Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks hope to continue their decent play of
late Saturday night when they visit a fellow Texas team, the Houston Rockets,
at the Toyota Center.
The Mavs have won two of their last three, including a 97-94 road victory
Thursday in Phoenix against the Suns. O.J. Mayo led the way for Dallas with 23
points, but four other Mavericks scored in double-figures.
The Mavs got clobbered on Wednesday night by the Los Angeles Clippers, 112-90,
then made the short trip from Los Angeles to Phoenix.
"We played one of our strongest-willed games of the year," said head coach
Rick Carlisle. "Difficult situation losing time coming off the back-to-back
and a rough one last night, but everybody really played with a lot of heart
and a lot of guts. It was really a war of attrition out there with the
injuries and all the stuff going on, but everybody hung in and we found a
way, and it's a huge win for us."
Dallas is trying to match any group together that can play well. Derek Fisher
was brought in to play the point guard and scored two points and had three
turnovers in 21 minutes Thursday.
Brandan Wright, who hadn't played much in recent weeks, scored 16 in 23
minutes off the bench. Elton Brand started at center, but Chris Kaman came in
and netted 15 points.
The Rockets will be glad to begin a four-game homestand after losing their
sixth straight on the road Friday night. Houston is 7-3 at home compared to
2-6 as the guest and has won its last six as the hosting club.
Houston, though, never led in Friday's 114-92 setback to the San Antonio
Spurs, shooting 38.9 percent compared to 55.2 percent by its opponent.
"Tonight we had guys struggling to make shots. One thing we have to get better
at is not letting missed shots effect the rest of your game," said Rockets
coach Kelvin Sampson. "I think our inability to makes shots effected our
defense. I just don't think we defended with much commitment tonight."
James Harden scored 29 points to pace the Rockets, who had won five of six
coming in. Patrick Patterson and Toney Douglas each contributed 10 points in
defeat.
"They're a very good team, especially at home. They did a good job of moving
the ball," Harden said about San Antonio. "We knew they were going to pass the
ball. It was just a matter of us really locking down and trying to stay on one
page defensively."
The Mavericks have won 10 of the last 12 against the Rockets, including seven
in a row. Houston last won at home against Dallas on Dec. 31, 2009.
The Sports Network