Dallas Mavericks Team Report - February 22

(Basketball News) - Dirk Nowitzki finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 97-88 win over the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center.

Michael Finley scored 19 points for the Mavericks, who overcame a 16-point deficit in the first quarter to earn their second straight victory overall and their sixth straight in the series.

Antoine Walker posted 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Rockets, while Steve Nash notched 10 points and nine assists for Dallas.

Houston got within 66-63 on a three-pointer by Jim Jackson with under five minutes to go in the third. Dallas then pushed its advantage to 78-64 on a driving layup by Walker with 1:01 to go in the frame.

A layup by Clarence Weatherspoon less than two minutes into the fourth quarter cut Houston’s deficit to 80-71. Later in the fourth, Houston used a 13-2 run, which was capped by a Steve Francis dunk with 32 seconds left, to get within 94-88. However, the Rockets got no closer.

The Mavs are off until Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.