The game between the Rockets and the Mavericks has always been a major attraction in the NBA. Both teams have strong attacking power and both have the attention of Chinese fans. The Rockets used to be Yao Ming's home stadium, and now it's Shin Jing's stage. The Mavericks, on the other hand, are Nowitzki's legend and now Doncic's kingdom.
However, in this game, the Mavericks did not send the strongest lineup. Doncic, Irving and many other main players are absent due to injuries or other reasons, and can only be played by substitutes such as Hardaway Jr. and Prosper. The Rockets are fully played, and core players such as Shin Jing, Smith Jr., and Jalen Green are all playing on the court.
As soon as the game began, the Rockets showed great attacking power. Shin Kyung dominated the interior, Smith Jr. and Jalen Green hit three-pointers from the outside, and the Rockets led the Mavericks by 14 points at 37-23 in the first quarter. The Mavericks' offense was lackluster, with only Prosper and Holmes scoring and the rest of the players making frequent turnovers or misses.
In the second quarter, the advantage of the rocket did not weaken, but expanded. Shin continued to play inside, and Smith Jr. and Jalen Green continued to play fast breaks, and the Rockets led the Mavericks by 22 points at halftime, 68-46. The Mavericks' defense was porous, with the Rockets' players scoring easily, while the Mavericks' players couldn't find their offensive rhythm, and only Hardaway Jr. and Prosper were able to score, but it wasn't enough to change the situation.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks did not give up and tried to catch up with the score. Hardaway Jr. and Prosper hit a couple of three-pointers from the outside, and Holmes and Hardy also scored inside, and the Mavericks went on an 18-6 run in the quarter to tie the score at 64-74 and trail by just 10 points. The Rockets looked a little slack, with more turnovers and fewer scoring, and only Shin Jing and Smith Jr. were able to hold their ground and help the Rockets maintain their lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Rockets regained their form and regained control of the game. Shin Kyung and Smith Jr. continued to score inside and outside, and Jalen Green also hit a couple of three-pointers from the outside, and the Rockets went on a 24-8 run in the quarter to stretch the score to 98-72 and lead by 26 points. The Mavericks, on the other hand, looked powerless and could only score in garbage time through Prosper and Holmes, unable to change the defeat.
In the end, the Rockets defeated the Mavericks 122-96, ending the embarrassment of a three-game losing streak and returning to the winning track. The Mavericks suffered a two-game losing streak, and without Doncic, they seemed a little overwhelmed.
The victory of the rocket is inseparable from Shen Jing's outstanding performance. In this game, he scored a double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds, including 8 offensive rebounds, showing his strong dominance on the inside. Not only did he put a lot of pressure on the Mavericks on the offensive end, but he also caused a lot of problems for the Mavericks on the defensive end, and he made three blocks in this game, one of which was a chase hat for Hardaway Jr., leaving the opponent at a loss.
Smith Jr. is also the Rockets' leading scorer, and he scored 21 points and 8 rebounds in this game, including 4 three-pointers, showing his threat from the outside. Not only did he excel in shooting, but he also contributed in passing, and he had four assists in this game, one of which was an empty dunk for Shin Kyung, making it impossible for the opposition to defend.
Jalen Green is also an important part of the Rockets, he scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in this game, including 3 three-pointers, showing his ability in many aspects. Not only did he break through in terms of scoring, but he also made a difference in defense, and he made two steals in this game, one of which was a fast-break layup for Smith Jr., which made it impossible for the opponent to counterattack.
The loss of the Mavericks is also related to their injuries. In this game, they lacked a number of main players such as Doncic and Irving, and could only be served by substitute players such as Hardaway Jr. and Prosper. Although they tried, they could not compete with the rockets.
Hardaway Jr. is the Mavericks' scoring leader, and he scored 16 points and 3 rebounds in this game, including 2 three-pointers, showing his status as a shooter on the outside. He not only showed in shooting, but also tried in penetration, and in this game, he made 2 free throws, one of which was forced to make a layup under the defense of the Rockets, making the opponent unstoppable.