Rockets edge Mavericks, 99-94

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Josh Smith delivered one key blocked shot and two timely baskets in the final three minutes to help the Houston Rockets hold off the Dallas Mavericks 99-94 Wednesday night.

"I thought his couple blocks late were huge. He protected the rim," said head coach Kevin McHale. "His threes went in, which is great, but his rim protection helped win that game."

Thanks to a 13-4 run to finish the opening 12 minutes, the Rockets (32-14) trailed the Mavs (30-17) by one point (25-24) at the end of the first quarter. Smith scored five points during the run.

Smith scored 8 points in the second quarter. Smith, Corey Brewer (six points) and Terrence Jones (8 points) combined for 22 of the Rockets' 30 points in the second period.

Jones missed the previous 41 games due to a nerve issue in his foot; but, with Dwight Howard sitting out the game due to edema in his knee, Jones' return to the team proved to be right on time for the Rockets.

"I got me a little winded early; but besides that, I had a lot of fun," Jones said after the game. "And, I felt real blessed to be out there with my teammates. I felt I did a good job trying to help them get this win tonight".

After a scoreless first half, Trevor Ariza erupted in the third quarter with 13 points on 5 for 7 field goals shooting (3 for 4 on threes).

The Rockets led the Mavs 81-78 after three quarters. Corey Brewer scored five consecutive points to put the Rockets ahead 86-78; but, four turnovers in four minutes by the Rockets allowed the Mavs to slowly slice into the lead and trail 88-85 with 7:20 remaining in the game.

The teams traded baskets for three minutes before Patrick Beverley scored a driving lay-up past former Rockets' teammate Chandler Parsons to put the Rockets ahead 92-87. Then, James Harden drove the lane; and, somehow, passed the ball to a wide open Josh Smith. Smith was behind the three-point line when he caught the chest-high pass and drained his fourth three-point basket of the game to give the Rockets a 95-87 lead with 2:56 on the game clock.

"His (Josh Smith's) man was in the paint; and, I kicked it out to him," Harden said. "And, he had confidence and knocked it down. He knocked a big one down in the fourth quarter."

After the Mavs cut the Rockets' lead to 95-92, Smith scored a lay-up to boost the lead to 97-92. Then, with 81 seconds remaining in the game, Smith stuffed Mavs' big man, Tyson Chandler, at the rim.

Clinging to a 97-94 Rockets' lead, James Harden gave a hard foul to Tyson Chandler which the referees ruled a Flagrant 1 foul which set up 2 foul shots for Tyson and the Mavs kept possession of the ball. However, Tyson Chandler missed both free throws; and, the Mavs turned the ball over which resulted in James Harden's icing the game with 2 free throws with 8.9 seconds left in the game.

Smith scored a team-high 18 points (7 for 13 field goals) for the Rockets - including 4 for 5 from three point range.

"I just felt comfortable. I didn't hesitate on any of my shots," Smith said. "It came natural to me and my teammates were giving me a lot of confidence and I'm just trying to deliver each and every night."

Smith's 18 points led a balanced-scoring attack by the Rockets: James Harden scored 17 points; Donatas Motiejunas scored 16; 14 points from Corey Brewer; 13 points by Ariza; and 10 points from Terrence Jones.

"It was a great effort by both teams," Smith commented. "We made more plays down the stretch and I think we just settled down and buckled down defensively and got some stops when we needed them."

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