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Thursday, Apr. 13 8:30pm ET
Houston halts Mavericks' five-game run | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- Steve Francis had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Houston Rockets to their fifth straight win, 111-102 over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Walt Williams led Houston with 21 points before being ejected after a fourth-quarter fight with Shawn Bradley. Cuttino Mobley contributed 20 points and Moochie Norris 19 for the Rockets, who have won nine of 12 games. Their five-game string is the longest current winning streak in the NBA. Dallas saw its own five-game roll end. Michael Finley led Dallas with 35 points, followed by Dirk Nowitzki with 15 and Erick Strickland with 14. Houston moved ahead 85-81 after a 3-pointer by Norris with 9:17 left. The Mavericks then scored seven straight to lead 88-85 with 7:39 remaining. Houston went back in front, leading 98-93 with 4:28 left, before Dallas moved to within 99-97 with 2:59 left. The Rockets outscored the Mavericks 12-5 after that, with Francis sinking a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left to give Houston a 107-99 lead that wouldn't be threatened. Williams and Bradley were ejected with 4:02 left, when Bradley elbowed Williams in the head after Williams fouled Bradley on a rebound. Williams then retaliated by punching Bradley in the mouth. After trailing 57-47 with 10:39 left in the third quarter, the Mavericks chipped away at the Houston lead to get within 77-75 going into the final period. Houston forged a 16-10 lead with 4:07 left in the first period after four straight points by Kenny Thomas. Dallas cut its deficit to 23-22 going into the second quarter after Finley contributed 13 first-period points. Dallas led 29-25 early in the second period, before Houston scored nine straight to lead 34-29 with 6:50 left in the half. The Mavericks tied the score 38-38 after a 3-pointer by Finley with 3:23 left in the half. The Rockets then outscored the Mavericks 14-4 to lead 52-42 at the half. Game notesCharles Barkley announced Thursday he plans to play in Houston's final game of the season, at home against the Vancouver Grizzlies next Wednesday. Barkley retired in December after rupturing a tendon in his left leg in a game against Philadelphia. ... Mobley leads all reserves with 21 games of 20 or more points. ... Houston is 9-2 with the starting lineup of Francis, Shandon Anderson, Williams, Thomas and Kelvin Cato. ... With one more victory, the Mavericks (36-42) will win their most games since 1989-90, when they won 47. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Dallas Clubhouse Houston Clubhouse RECAPS Washington 109 Chicago 103
Houston 111
Sacramento 130
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