Houston closed Friday with a 135-117 victory over Dallas, with Tari Eason leading the Rockets with 20 points at Venetian Arena. Houston, the visiting team, built its advantage through the first three quarters before Dallas narrowed the gap slightly in the fourth.
Houston builds an early cushion
The Rockets took the first quarter 27-19 and extended their advantage by outscoring the Mavericks 38-26 in the second. Houston’s 65-45 halftime lead reflected a strong opening half, while Dallas’ offense produced 26 points in the second quarter after scoring 19 in the first.
Alperen Sengun contributed 10 assists and 10 rebounds for Houston. Eason’s 20 points were the team’s top scoring total among the listed performers. The Rockets also received a 10-assist, 10-rebound performance from Sengun as they carried their lead into the second half.
Mavericks make a late push
Dallas answered with a 35-34 edge in the third quarter, but Houston still added to its lead because of the first-half margin. The Rockets scored 36 points in the final quarter, while the Mavericks scored 37, allowing Dallas to trim the deficit without changing the result.
