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Mavericks-Rockets Preview

Dec 30, 2009 - 5:52 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Dallas (22-9) at Houston (19-13), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Houston Rockets' trip to Dallas earlier this month ended with a controversial overtime win well after Dirk Nowitzki got an elbow full of teeth from Carl Landry, who subsequently endured six hours of surgery.

The rest of the Rockets might prefer a trip to the dentist's chair over reliving their November visit from the Mavericks.

Houston looks to close the decade at the Toyota Center by avenging its worst home loss in more than 10 years Thursday night against Dallas.

The Rockets (19-13) had lost three straight by double digits to their Southwest Division rivals before heading to the American Airlines Center on Dec. 18, and although Kyle Lowry's career-high 26 points and 10 assists lifted Houston to a 116-108 overtime victory, the game's most notable moment came in the second quarter.

That's when Nowitzki's drive into the lane was cut short by Landry, who was inadvertently hit in the mouth by the 2007 MVP's elbow. Nowitzki received a deep laceration while Landry suffered five cracked or knocked out teeth, two of which were found embedded in Nowitzki's elbow.

That wasn't the only memorable moment. Erick Dampier and coach Rick Carlisle were ejected in overtime as Dallas (22-9) picked up six of the game's seven technicals. Owner Mark Cuban filed a formal protest of the game, citing "multiple misapplications of the rules."

No ruling is expected until January, but there have only been two successful protests in the NBA in 27 years. Assuming that trend continues, Thursday's visit is the last of the regular season between the teams.

Trevor Ariza, who's averaged 14.0 points in the three meetings with Dallas, downplayed any bad blood.

"It's just something that happens out on the court," Ariza told the NBA's official Web site. "A heat of the moment thing."

The Mavericks won the first meeting 121-103 at home on Nov. 10 behind 24 points from Jason Terry, and he was even more vital on Nov. 25 in Houston. He scored 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting and added 10 assists as Dallas won 130-99, the Rockets' most lopsided home loss since falling 114-80 to Seattle on Jan. 19, 1998.

Terry has averaged 23.8 points on 63.9 percent shooting in his last four games against Houston. However, he's been struggling a bit, shooting 35.4 percent over the last six games.

The Mavericks, though, haven't cooled off, winning eight of 10. Their five starters totaled 55 points Sunday in Denver, but Terry, Josh Howard and Drew Gooden combined for 49 off the bench to lead a 104-96 win.

"It's a lot of weapons," said Gooden, who went 8 for 8 from the field and finished with 19 points and 10 boards. "That's a big plus when you've got everybody on the court at the same time that can score."

Six Rockets have averaged at least 13.0 points in the three games against the Mavericks, led by Aaron Brooks' 18.7.

Brooks endured a rough four-game stretch after scoring 25 in the overtime win at Dallas, shooting 28.0 percent. But he went 8 of 12 on Tuesday against New Orleans - 5 of 7 from 3-point range - to key a 108-100 comeback victory.

The Rockets outscored the Hornets 34-18 in the fourth after being outscored 31-13 in the third.

"We didn't hesitate," Brooks said after Houston improved to 7-0 when he scores 23 or more. "When the shot was open, we took it and we got back to doing what we were doing in the first and second quarter."

Landry, who averaged 21.5 points in the first two meetings against Dallas, has averaged 20.4 since returning after a one-game absence following his surgery.