Tari Eason’s 20 Points Lead Rockets Past Mavericks, 135-117

Eason Leads Houston

Tari Eason scored 20 points, and the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 135-117 on Friday at Venetian Arena. Alperen Sengun finished with 10 assists and 10 rebounds for Houston, which played as the visiting team. The game was played before an attendance of 11,564.

Rockets Build Early Margin

Houston took control with a 27-19 advantage after the opening quarter. The Rockets then added 38 points in the second quarter while holding the Mavericks to 26, taking a 65-45 lead into halftime. Fred VanVleet made Houston’s first three baskets, all from 3-point range, as the Rockets opened the game with a 9-0 run.

Cooper Flagg scored 19 points for Dallas. He made two baskets during the second quarter’s opening stretch, helping the Mavericks cut the deficit to 27-23, but Houston answered with a run of its own. The Rockets moved ahead 42-26 and later extended the margin to 65-45 by halftime.

Dallas Narrows the Gap Late

The Mavericks scored 35 points in the third quarter, one more than Houston, but the Rockets still carried a 99-80 lead into the final period. Dallas again held a one-point edge in the fourth quarter, scoring 37 points to Houston’s 36, yet Houston maintained control through the finish.

Zaccharie Risacher had eight rebounds for Dallas, while Dwight Powell recorded eight assists. Houston’s lead reached 112-83 in the fourth quarter before Dallas continued to trim the margin. The Rockets answered with the final points needed to secure the 18-point victory.

Records

The result left Houston at 1-0 and Dallas at 0-1. The quarter-by-quarter score was Houston 27-38-34-36 and Dallas 19-26-35-37, producing the final score of Rockets 135, Mavericks 117.

Sources

ESPN