NBA: Second-quarter burst helps Rockets past Mavericks

Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (7) and center Alperen Sengun (28) attempt to steal the ball from Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the second quarter of an NBA game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Cam Whitmore scored 18 points off the bench and teamed with Alperen Sengun to lead a decisive second-quarter run that helped the Houston Rockets to a 110-99 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks in the NBA on Wednesday.

Sengun tallied 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals as Houston rebounded after dropping the first two games of a five-game homestand. Momentum flipped in the second quarter when Whitmore and Sengun combined to score 20 points during a 23-4 run that turned a 10-point deficit into a 53-44 lead.

Cam Whitmore made a BIG impact off the bench tonight 👏

📊 18 PTS | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 7-9 FG@MemorialHermann | #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/oIZxKUtAH8

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 2, 2025

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Houston’s Jalen Green scored 22 points while Dillon Brooks added 19 points and six rebounds. The Rockets won without two key bench contributors: Tari Eason (leg) and Amen Thompson (suspension).

Klay Thompson posted 16 points and four 3-pointers for the Mavericks, while Kyrie Irving added 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Already without their leading scorer, Luka Doncic (calf), the Mavericks lost P.J. Washington to a right knee sprain. He did not return for the second half.

The Mavericks were unable to maintain the momentum from their hot start. Houston erased an early 10-point deficit with a 12-2 run capped by a pair of free throws by Brooks, but Dallas reclaimed a 30-24 lead entering the second.

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The Mavericks led 40-30 when Spender Dinwiddie drilled a 3-pointer at the 8:12 mark of the second, Dallas’ sixth trey of the half. The Rockets, meanwhile, were 0 for 6 from behind the arc at that juncture.

Sengun got the Rockets rolling with back-to-back baskets in the paint before Whitmore stroked a 3-pointer. Sengun struck again to extend the lead to 47-44, and Whitmore added another 3-pointer with 3:33 left in the half to push the margin to seven. Whitmore scored 11 points during the rally.

Quentin Grimes, who led the Mavericks with 17 points, and Jaden Harden scored 10 points apiece in the first half for Dallas, which trailed 61-52 at the break.

The Rockets opened the third quarter with a 9-2 burst, featuring a 3-pointer by Jabari Smith Jr. When Thompson and Dinwiddie combined for three 3-pointers to open the fourth, Whitmore responded a few minutes later with a trey that pushed the lead to 104-86. –Field Level Media