DALLAS, – Yao Ming scored 19 of his 23 points in the second quarter but the Chinese superstar struggled in the second half as the Dallas Mavericks dumped Houston 95-84 in a pivotal NBA contest.
The season-ending defeat cost the Rockets the Southwest division title, which went to San Antonio, and a higher seeding position in the playoffs, leaving them to face Portland in the first round of the NBA post-season fight.
German star Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to power the Mavericks, who claimed the sixth seed in the Western Conference and will open against San Antonio as a result.
Jason Terry scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Mavericks, who also had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds from Jason Kidd in the triumph.
Kyle Lowry added 15 points with Ron Artest contributing 10 for the Rockets, who squandered a 14-point lead and had a five-game win streak snapped to cost them their first division crown since 1994.
An 18-4 Dallas run late in the third quarter pulled the hosts level and back-to-back 3-pointers from Kidd and Terry midway into the fourth quarter spelled doom for the Rockets. Yao went scoreless in the final period
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire