DALLAS — Luka Doncic returns from a one-game injury absence and leads the Dallas Mavericks (48-30) to a dramatic 22-point come-from-behind victory over the Houston Rockets (38-40) with a final score of 147 in overtime. lead. 136.
A loss would eliminate the Rockets from play-in contention. They were aggressive on both ends from the beginning. Houston opened up a 24-5 lead, ending the season on a high and answering coach Ime Udoka's challenge to play at the level they have during their recent 11-game winning streak.
April 7, 2024. Dallas, Texas, USA.Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, 77, drives into the lane during a game.
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Armen Thompson was ejected midway through the period for a play that gave him a flagrant two call. He shoved his forearm into Maxi Kleber's neck, sparking a scuffle with Kleber's teammates on defense.
While the Mavs heated up from behind the arc late in the period, the Rockets continued to attack from the perimeter. Dallas trailed by double digits until facing a 42-27 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
Gafford went to the bench early in the second quarter after picking up his third personal foul. However, Doncic returned with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left before halftime. The Mavs trailed by 22 points multiple times in the second quarter, most recently after Brooks hit a 3-pointer midway through the period.
The Mavs began a full-scale rally to counter the Rockets' early 65-50 deficit.
Green committed a charge while being guarded by Doncic, fouled Irving on a step-back 3-pointer, and then picked up two fouls on a series of two plays. Suddenly, with 3:10 left in regulation, Green committed four fouls. Irving made all three free throws, cutting the Rockets' lead to 65-53.
The Mavs continued to chip away at the Rockets' lead, and after some strong offensive play supported by defensive stops, Doncic brought Dallas within seven points. Doncic scored on a post-up, made a transition lob for Washington for a dunk, then drew a shooting foul on back-to-back plays. The first was a step-through to the post after a fake turnaround, then the goal in transition. drive.
Irving scored five unanswered points, including a floater off a drive and a transition pull-up 3-pointer, to pull the Mavs within 71-66 at the break. This was the first of multiple individual runs he made during this game to prevent the tide from turning too much in the Rockets' favor.
After both teams traded baskets to start the second half, Gafford's and-one finish punished the switch and brought the game to four points. Dallas continued to make the plays it needed to on the offensive end, including Doncic's turnaround jumper and Irving's pull-up 3-pointer, keeping the team within striking distance after the defense failed to make several stops.
Doncic continued to make an impact offensively, using a jab step before a jumper to knock Brooks to the ground, a step-back 3-pointer, and a drive and-one, and the Slovenian superstar continued to play energetically. Ta.
Houston built some kind of lead before the end of the third quarter, finishing with a 10-2 run to solidify a 106-98 advantage. A turnover early in the final period led to a breakaway dunk that extended the Rockets' advantage to double digits.
Irving's one-footed jumper from the baseline, followed by a transition jumper with his foot on the line, and capped off with a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer in the corner to bring the Mavs within one point early in the fourth quarter. Irving continued to respond even after the Rockets scored several times. On one play, he used a crossover that turned into a spin move against Brooks for a layup, keeping Dallas within one possession. He then attacked Green for a stepback jumper from midrange.
Irving's come-from-behind jumper finally tied the game with less than five minutes left in regulation. Brooks hit a 3-pointer to give Houston the lead again, and Dallas continued to play from behind in clutch time.
Green missed a 3-point shot after creating separation with a snatchback move. As a result, Dallas held the ball and called a timeout with over three minutes left. Houston blitzed Doncic and set Dallas up 4-on-3, and Irving took advantage of that by attacking downhill, drawing a foul on a pull-up jumper and then making two free throws. The Mavs took their first lead of the night at 121-120 with 3:02 left.
Brooks quickly made another corner 3-pointer, but Irving posted up for a double and the ball caught Washington in the corner before missing the jumper. Houston had a chance to take a four-point lead after Smith made a catch-and-shoot jumper over the break, but missed.
Doncic hit a double that hit the post, but passed out and recovered it for a step-back 3-pointer for the game-winner. The Rockets didn't give up and scored on a floater by Smith, followed by a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer by Bullock. Irving made a backdoor cut for a layup during Houston's scoring play, while Kleber missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 38.1 seconds left.
A challenge on a play in which Exum committed an offensive foul ended in failure, and VanVleet made two free throws to give the Rockets a 129-126 lead with 22.7 seconds left. Dallas used its final timeout after losing a point on a missed challenge.
Irving received a clean look from deep after coming off a flare screen, but the shot went wide. Houston grabbed the rebound to close down possession and called a timeout with 13.6 seconds left. Smith was intentionally rapped before missing two free throws, giving the Mavs a chance to tie the game on their final possession.
The Mavs made the most of the opportunity, eventually creating a clean look for Exum to make a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer as the final buzzer sounded. It was Dallas' first overtime game of the season.
Irving made two free throws for the Mavs to lead by as many as four points early in overtime, then Exum used an in-and-out dribble to attack VanVleet and finish near the rim. Houston made some timely scoring plays to cut the Mavs' lead to one point, but Irving's scoop finish and subsequent defensive stop put Dallas in an advantageous position.
With less than a minute left in overtime, a series of moves involving the Mavs' starting wing effectively sealed the victory. Washington hit a corner 3-pointer to put the Mavs ahead by six points. But Jones' stop near the rim against Green allowed Washington to make another corner jumper. After another stop, Doncic made a layup to seal the 11-point victory.
Looking ahead, the Mavs will play a two-game East Coast road trip, starting with Tuesday's game in Charlotte and ending with the second night of a back-to-back in Miami the following day.
