Small lineup helps Harden, Rockets fend off Mavericks

Houston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

HOUSTON — Houston’s small lineup played big on Friday night to give the Rockets a win over the Dallas Mavericks.

James Harden scored 35 points, Russell Westbrook added 32 and the Rockets built a big lead and held on for a 128-121 victory.

Harden grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds for a Rockets team playing with a starting lineup that had no player taller than 6-foot-6 with Clint Capela out with a bruised heel.

Harden said it’s fun to play with such a small lineup, but admitted it can be difficult, especially facing a team with a big man as good as Kristaps Porzingis.

“It’s challenging, especially when you have to guard bigger guys,” Harden said. “Porzingis under the basket can bring the competitiveness out of you and you have to compete, and you have to be physical and that’s when you rely on your teammates.”

Harden faced Porzingis for the opening tip and said he doesn’t remember lining up for that since he was in high school.

The Rockets led by 16 points entering the fourth quarter on a night when Mavericks star Luka Doncic sat out with a sprained right ankle that is expected to keep him out at least six games.

But the Mavericks started out the fourth quarter strong and got within four with about 5 minutes left.

Austin Rivers made a 3-pointer to stretch Houston’s advantage to 113-106 after that. Harden stole the ball from Porzingis seconds later and finished the fast break with a layup.

But Dallas wouldn’t go away and cut the lead to four twice after that with the second time coming with about 90 seconds left when Tim Hardaway Jr. was fouled on a 3-pointer and made the free throw for a four-point play.

Harden made a 3-pointer to pad Houston’s lead after Hardaway’s play, and the Rockets were able to hold on for the victory.

Porzingis had 35 points and 12 rebounds as the Mavericks lost their second game in a row.

“In the end the 3s got us and it’s hard fighting an uphill battle and getting back after being down by (16),” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “I like a lot of things but they’re a good team and they force you into some tough situations.”

Coach Mike D’Antoni said if Capela remains out and they need to go to the smaller lineup more often, they’ll have to guard much better.

“You’ve got to hunker down and let’s go and get in front of guys,” he said. “If we do that and we get conscientious about boxing out and getting back, we could make this lineup pretty good.”

The Mavericks scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Seth Curry, to cut the deficit to 101-92. Dallas was still down by nine when Harden entered the game for the first time in the fourth quarter with about 9 minutes to go.

But his presence didn’t stop the Mavericks’ charge. Dallas used a 7-1 spurt, with five points from Delon Wright, to get within 107-104 and make Houston coach Mike D’Antoni call a timeout to try and get his team on track.

Houston got its first field goal in almost 3 ½ minutes after that when Harden made a 3-point play midway through the quarter.

The Rockets had a five-point lead at halftime and had pushed it to 85-70 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. Houston got 3-pointers from Danuel House, P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon in that stretch and got two dunks after steals to help build the lead.

Houston led by 17 later in the third before the Mavericks used an 8-2 run, with the first five points from Porzingis, to get within 94-83.

But Westbrook took over after that, scoring the next five points before throwing an alley-oop to Ben McLemore, who finished with a dunk, to push the lead to 101-83. Westbrook smiled broadly and raised his arms to encourage the crowd to cheer when the Mavericks called a timeout after that play.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Carlisle got a technical foul in the second quarter for arguing about a foul call. … Hardaway had 15 points. … Curry added 16 points off the bench.

Rockets: Capela sat out for the second time in three games because a bruised heel that has bothered him for weeks. D’Antoni said he’s day to day with the injury. … Houston scored at least 100 points through three quarters for the fifth time this season and improved to 34-0 when the team has scored 100 points before the fourth quarter under D’Antoni.

REMEMBERING KOBE

The Rockets had a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and the seven others who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday before Friday’s game. They played a video featuring clips of the Lakers star and his daughter with many current and former Rockets, before putting pictures of the nine victims on the screen and observing a 24-second moment of silence. Bryant wore No. 24 for the second part of his career with the Lakers.

DONCIC’S INJURY

Doncic was injured during a scrimmage in practice on Thursday and Carlisle said before the game that he’d be out until at least Feb. 10.

Carlisle added that he expects that Doncic will be healthy in time to participate in the All-Star Game after he was selected to the team for the first time and voted a starter.

Carlisle said the Mavericks expect to have an update on Doncic’s condition on Feb. 8, which is the day of the sixth game.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Atlanta on Saturday night.

Rockets: Host New Orleans on Sunday.