HOUSTON — James Harden and Josh Smith keyed a second-half offensive resurgence and the Houston Rockets rallied from a third-quarter, double-digit deficit to race past the Dallas Mavericks 115-104 on Sunday at Toyota Center.
Harden posted his eighth career triple-double and second this season, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Smith, in his second game with the Rockets (24-22) following his acquisition from the Clippers on Friday, added 16 points off the Houston bench.
Rockets forward Trevor Ariza scored a season-high 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting as Houston overcame a season-high 31 points from Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki added 19 points while guards Ray Felton and Wesley Matthews scored 16 and 15 points, respectively. Center Sal Mejri, starting for the injured Zaza Pachulia, had 10 points and 11 boards. The Mavericks (25-21) hit 15 of 30 3-pointers in defeat.
Following an offensive showcase where both teams shot above 50 percent in the first quarter, only Dallas kept pace in the second period.
Keyed by Nowitzki, who scored on three consecutive Mavericks possessions, Dallas seized the lead with a 13-0 run that included Houston missing six consecutive field goals while committing two turnovers over a four-plus minute stretch. The Rockets missed 15 of 21 shots in the second, and when Parsons closed the half with a 3-pointer and three free throws with 11.9 seconds left, Dallas led 58-50 at the half.
But following a 3-for-12 first half, Harden found a groove early in the third quarter, scoring 10 quick points to keep the Rockets afloat. Dallas maintained a 73-65 lead before Smith entered at the 5:35 mark of the period, and he combined with Harden to jumpstart the Houston attack.
NOTES: The Mavericks were without C Zaza Pachulia (right lower leg) and F Jeremy Evans (right shoulder). Should Pachulia respond well to rest, he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Lakers in Los Angeles. … Rockets PG Patrick Beverley returned to the lineup after missing three of four games with a left ankle sprain while C Dwight Howard remained sidelined with the same ailment. Howard missed his second consecutive game after suffering the injury in the opening minute against the Pistons last Wednesday. … Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff stuck with his small-ball lineup, pairing Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer at forward alongside C Clint Capela. Ariza provides the defensive versatility to validate the change, defending power forwards with an effectiveness that makes Bickerstaff amenable with the switch.