Rockets vs. Mavericks: Game 3 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 NBA Playoffs
Playing on your home court is one thing, but it is more of an advantage to have an MVP candidate on your team.
The Dallas Mavericks found that out the hard way Friday when James Harden and the Houston Rockets seized a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 130-128 victory in Dallas. Harden spearheaded the Rockets attack with 42 points, nine assists, five rebounds and a steal.
He also made a number of clutch plays with the game on the line during the stretch run.
Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis each scored 34 points for the Mavericks and inspired a fourth-quarter comeback when their team was down by double digits, but it ultimately fell just short. Ellis had an opportunity to tie the game at the buzzer with a jumper at the top of the key, but he missed badly.
The game started with a defense-optional first half, and the Mavericks took advantage. Dallas went into the locker room with a 72-65 lead, and Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com noted the home team didn't seem to miss Rajon Rondo—its usual point guard:
The Mavericks were able to establish a lead partly because of their play in transition. Synergy Sports Tech put Dallas' efficiency into statistical terms, while the NBA shared a highlight of one of the more impressive fast-break opportunities:
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle pointed out that the defensive performance was out of character for the Rockets:
It was the type of early urgency from Dallas that Harden expected.
“We have to be ready from the beginning," the Rockets shooting guard said before the game, per Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. "They are back at home. They have a few injuries. We have to play hard and match their intensity and energy. The crowd will be into it, so we have to be ready to go from the beginning of the game.”
Houston temporarily straightened up the defense at the start of the third quarter and went on a spurt to retake the lead. MacMahon noted that Dwight Howard was a primary reason why, while Feigen described the back-and-forth nature of the contest:
The impressive offense continued for both sides throughout the rest of the quarter, and Houston took a 101-99 lead into the fourth.
Houston established control of the game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter and opened up a double-digit lead. It was all the more painful for the crowd because former Maverick Corey Brewer made a number of important plays for the other team instead of Dallas, as Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram pointed out:
In addition to Brewer's contributions, Howard's dominance on the glass helped Houston maintain the lead in the middle of the fourth quarter by limiting any Mavs second-chance looks. SportsCenter passed along the impressive numbers:
Dallas brought the gap to single digits, but Howard or Harden seemed to have an answer every time the Mavericks pulled within six points.
Nowitzki hit a critical shot to pull the Mavericks to within five, and then Ellis trimmed the lead to three with 1:36 remaining. MacMahon praised Nowitzki's ability to come through in the clutch as the team's veteran leader:
Even with Nowitzki's excellence, Harden demonstrated why he is an MVP candidate with a crucial and-1 layup with less than a minute left. It pushed the lead to 127-123, although Nowitzki answered right back and drew a foul on a three-pointer. The score was 127-126 three free throws later.
It was Harden's turn after that in the Texas duel, and he rimmed in a cold-blooded jumper from the wing to stretch the lead to 129-126 with 12 seconds left. Ellis answered with a runner on the other end to trim the lead back to one, and Brewer only made one free throw on the ensuing foul. The Rockets led 130-128, and Dallas had one more opportunity with six seconds left.
Ellis took a handoff from Nowitzki and had a clean look at the top of the key, but his shot drew nothing but backboard. Just like that, Houston is one game away from the series victory.
What's Next?
Game 4 of this series will be Sunday in Dallas, and Houston has the opportunity to finish the sweep.
Considering the Rockets will face the winner of the battle between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in the second round, it would serve them well to finish Dallas off quickly. The Spurs-Clippers series looks like it will go six or seven games given how closely matched the two teams are, so Houston could pick up critical rest while it happens.
Expect the Rockets to come out with urgency Sunday, even though they are the ones with a 3-0 series lead.
