Late miscues sink Dallas in Houston. Despite offensive strides, crucial defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities cost the Mavericks their third straight loss.
HOUSTON — The Dallas Mavericks battled, but another fourth-quarter collapse kept them from snapping their skid.
Amen Thompson scored a season-high 27 points, Alperen Şengün added 26 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets used a strong finish to hand the Mavericks a 110-102 loss Monday night at Toyota Center.
Dallas fell to 2–5 while Houston, now 4–2, extended its win streak to four games after dropping its first two. The Mavericks again played without Anthony Davis, who remains sidelined with a strained left calf.
The Rockets’ starting five combined for 91 points, led by Thompson’s relentless drives and Şengün’s steady playmaking inside. Houston shot just 6-of-26 from three-point range but compensated by scoring 62 points in the paint.
For Dallas, P.J. Washington delivered his best game of the season with 29 points and 12 rebounds, aggressively attacking Houston’s zone defense and scoring twice over Kevin Durant in transition. Max Christie added 17 points, while Cooper Flagg finished with 12 points and five rebounds — all in the first half before leaving briefly after colliding with Tari Eason.
The Mavericks’ offensive rhythm showed progress, particularly in transition where they recorded 24 fast-break points. But a series of late-game breakdowns undid much of that progress.
Head coach Jason Kidd said afterward the difference came down to execution and rebounding in the final minutes.
“We got good looks but couldn’t get the stops,” Kidd said. “Some shots we normally make didn’t go down. The plan was to attack and spray the ball, and we executed that for most of the night.”
He also credited Şengün’s growth as a focal point of Houston’s attack.
“He’s improved,” Kidd said. “They trust him to make the right play, and he’s doing that. We’ve got to do a better job protecting the paint.”
Washington, who carried the Mavericks offensively, described his comfort against Houston’s zone defense and his mindset as the team’s injuries pile up.
“They were in a zone. I was just trying to attack the little guy,” Washington said. “I’m very comfortable in the middle of the zone, so I was just trying to be aggressive. My teammates need me to be aggressive, so that’s what I tried to do.”
He acknowledged that while the offense is trending upward, defensive lapses have been costly.
“I think we’re starting to make more shots and play together better,” he said. “Defensively, we’ve got to be better. Too many points in the paint and way too many fouls.”
Daniel Gafford, who recently returned from a right ankle sprain, provided an inside boost with 14 points, four rebounds, and three blocks before briefly exiting after tweaking his ankle in the third quarter. He returned to start the fourth.
“It was just discomfort. Came down wrong,” Gafford said. “Once I felt good running, I was fine. It’s only my second game back, so I’m taking baby steps to get to 100 percent.”
Despite the loss, Gafford said the team’s fight gave him optimism.
“We got the looks we wanted and executed well, but they hit their shots and free throws,” he said. “Every day in this league is a blessing. I just want to keep getting better and feeling stronger.”
The game swung in the closing minutes after Dallas tied it at 99 on a Washington three-point play. Kevin Durant, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 6-of-18 shooting, responded with consecutive threes to give Houston a cushion. From there, Thompson and Şengün took over.
Thompson punctuated his night with a block on Flagg’s late three-point attempt before Tari Eason sealed the win with a dunk in the final seconds.
The Mavericks have now lost three straight and continue to search for their first win without Davis. They’ll return home Wednesday to face the winless New Orleans Pelicans, who rank near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency.
“We played three great quarters, but the fourth could’ve been better,” Washington said. “We just need to play a full 48 minutes and close out.”