Irving's 35 points lead Mavericks past Rockets 116-111

A Hard-Fought Victory in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks held off a resilient Houston Rockets squad to secure a 116-111 victory on Friday night, October 30, 2026. Playing at home at the American Airlines Center before an attendance of 18,832, Dallas improved its record to 4-2, while the Rockets fell to 5-1.

Irving and Washington Stand Out

Kyrie Irving was the driving force for the Mavericks, pouring in a game-high 35 points along with nine assists. His scoring versatility kept the Houston defense honest throughout the contest. On the glass, P.J. Washington provided critical support for Dallas with 10 rebounds.

For the Rockets, Kevin Durant led his team with 28 points, while Fred VanVleet orchestrated the offense with six assists. Tari Eason dominated the boards for Houston, grabbing 13 rebounds to help keep his team in the game despite the final loss.

A Tale of Two Halves

The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead, taking the first quarter 27-20 behind strong shooting performances. However, the Rockets responded with a surge in the second quarter, outscoring Dallas 31-17 to take a 51-49 lead into halftime.

The momentum shifted back in the third quarter, where the Mavericks edged Houston 32-33 was incorrect; the quarter score was 33 for Houston and 32 for Dallas, making the score entering the fourth 82-81 Rockets? No, let's look at the quarters.

First Quarter: DAL 27, HOU 20. Second Quarter: DAL 17, HOU 31. Halftime Score: DAL 44, HOU 51. Third Quarter: DAL 32, HOU 33. Score after three quarters: DAL 76, HOU 84. Fourth Quarter: DAL 40, HOU 27. Final Score: DAL 116, HOU 111.

The Mavericks' fourth-quarter surge was decisive. They outscored Houston 40-27 in the final period, erasing a deficit that had threatened to derail their momentum. The high-scoring finish featured key baskets from Irving and timely free throws that sealed the win for the home team.

Records Update

With this result, the Mavericks move to 4-2 on the season, showing resilience after a slow start. The Rockets, despite the loss, remain undefeated in terms of being above .500 at 5-1, proving they are still a formidable opponent in the Western Conference.

Sources

ESPN