Davis and Christie ignite Mavericks' comeback, halting their slide. Dominant defense and timely shots secure a crucial win over the Rockets.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks leaned into their defensive identity and rediscovered timely execution Saturday night, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 110-104 victory over the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center.
Anchored by Anthony Davis on both ends and fueled by the most efficient scoring night of Max Christie’s career, Dallas stabilized itself against one of the Western Conference’s hottest teams, holding the Rockets to 38.7% shooting while delivering a needed response after a turbulent stretch.
Davis finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three assists, controlling the paint as the Mavericks recorded their third double-digit block game of the season. Christie added 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while grabbing seven rebounds and supplying the type of downhill aggression Dallas has sought from its backcourt.
“We came out with good energy, great intensity and it feels good to get the win,” Davis said afterward, pointing to the Mavericks’ collective edge after falling behind early.
Houston struck first despite losing center Alperen Şengün just 1:04 into the game with a sprained right ankle. Already without Steven Adams, the Rockets leaned heavily on Kevin Durant, who poured in 34 points while playing the entire second half with four fouls. The early surge pushed Houston to a 20-9 lead and briefly threatened to send Dallas spiraling again.
Instead, the Mavericks responded with force. Christie, Davis, and reserve guard Brandon Williams, who scored 15 points off the bench, led a push that erased the deficit and helped Dallas take control by halftime. The Mavericks shot 55.0% from the field for the game, their ball movement and rim pressure carving up a Houston defense that thrives on physicality.
Christie’s assertiveness stood out not only for the makes, but for how it lifted Dallas’ energy. He threw down three dunks — a rarity even by his standards — and repeatedly attacked closeouts rather than settling.
“It felt good just to be athletic out there, be able to attack the rim with force and get a couple of dunks,” Christie said with a laugh. “Everybody was telling me that might be the most I’ve ever had.”
Dallas carried an 87-75 lead into the fourth quarter, but Houston’s rebounding prowess — the Rockets finished with 17 offensive boards — fueled a late rally. When the margin shrank to 101-93, Davis delivered one of the game’s defining moments, stonewalling Tari Eason at the rim before pushing the ball himself and finding Klay Thompson in the corner for a momentum-swinging three.
“Anytime those guys get dunks or make big plays with authority, it kind of gets our team going and gets the crowd going,” Davis said, crediting Christie and Williams for setting the tone with their physical finishes.
Houston closed within 106-101 with just over a minute remaining, but Christie again answered, selling a jumper before exploding to the rim for a decisive dunk. Davis iced the game at the free-throw line moments later.
Rookie Cooper Flagg endured another uneven scoring night, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting, but his all-around impact was evident. He added seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block, registering his 15th career 10-5-5 game despite early foul trouble.
“You’re not always going to score 30 every night,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “I thought the maturity of being able to do other things for his teammates — finding them for threes, making plays and rebounding — was big.”
Kidd also acknowledged the broader context facing his rookie, noting the physical toll of heavy minutes and the mental challenge of pushing through what he described as the rookie wall.
“You’ve got to embrace it,” Kidd said. “For the great ones, they touch it. They don’t run from it. They find a way to go over it or through it or around it.”
Dallas did not escape unscathed. Forward P.J. Washington Jr. was ruled out after the first quarter with a sprained right ankle, further testing a rotation already juggling injuries. Even so, the Mavericks leaned on depth, finishing with 41 bench points — their 19th game this season reaching the 40-point mark from reserves.
For Dallas, now 2-1 against Houston this season and winners of six of its last seven home games, the performance offered a reminder of its blueprint. Defend with intent, protect the rim, and let the offense flow through aggression rather than hesitation.
On a night when momentum mattered as much as execution, the Mavericks finally reclaimed both.