NBA Game Summary - Dallas at Houston

Houston, TX (Basketball News) - Jason Terry poured in a team-high 32 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Houston Rockets, 97-93, in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Toyota Center.

Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley each had 18 points for the Mavericks, who evened their best-of-seven series at two games apiece with Game 5 slated for Monday at AmericanAirlines Center.

Tracy McGrady scored a game-high 36 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Yao Ming added 20 points for the Rockets, who had won both games in Dallas.

Houston had a four-point cushion in the early moments of the fourth quarter, until McGrady made it an 88-82 contest on his foul line jumper with 5:41 left.

Terry answered for the Mavericks, though, and his trey made it an 88-85 game with just over three minutes to go. Erick Dampier followed up a Nowitzki miss moments later to make it a one-point contest.

After a Yao turnover, Finley put the Mavericks ahead 89-88 on his bucket with 1:36 to play.

McGrady was unable to convert on the next Rockets possession and Nowitzki came away with a loose ball after a scramble on the floor.

On the ensuing Dallas chance, Finley delivered yet again to give the Mavericks a three-point cushion with less than a minute to go.

Yao was fouled on his driving attempt and promptly sank both free throws to bring Houston within a point, but Terry drained a three-pointer with 26.9 ticks left to put Dallas back up by four.

Out of the timeout, McGrady drove the lane and kicked it out to the wing for a wide open David Wesley, who hit the three-point attempt to make it 94-93.

Jerry Stackhouse was then fouled and hit just 1-of-2 from the line, but McGrady was unable to corral the rebound underneath the hoop and lost it out of bounds.

Nowitzki took the inbounds and was fouled after seven seconds had run off the clock. He hit both at the line, making it 97-93 with 6.1 seconds left.

Houston had one last chance to make it a one-point game, but Mike James’ three-point attempt rimmed off and rolled out of bounds as the clock expired .

After a close first half of play, the Rockets were able to grab a six-point lead in the opening moments of the third quarter. Leading 60-58, Yao hit two free throws and, following a Dallas turnover, McGrady soared down the lane for a thunderous dunk with 7:58 to go in the frame.

Trailing 70-62, Terry sparked a 12-0 run by Dallas, scoring eight points in the surge, while Nowitzki added a three-point play to help the Mavericks go ahead by four.

The Rockets battled back, though, and evened the game at 77-77 heading into the final quarter.

Dallas led 26-22 after the first 12 minutes of play, but Houston garnered a 51-48 advantage at intermission.