Dallas Mavericks Team Report - December 12

(Basketball News) - Michael Finley had 26 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks thumped the Houston Rockets, 102-78, at the Toyota Center.

Josh Howard added 13 points and Marquis Daniels 11 for Dallas, which has won 13 of its last 16 against meetings with the Rockets, including nine of the last 10.

There was little suspense to this contest. Dallas jumped to a 10-0 lead, and never led by less than six the rest of the way.

Nowitzki had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, as Dallas built a lead of as many as 18 points before taking a 50-41 edge into the locker room.

Finley, meanwhile, was the star of the final 24 minutes, scoring 20 of his total after intermission.

A Devin Harris three-pointer with 4:12 left in the contest gave the Mavericks their biggest lead at 98-68.

Dallas returns to action on Monday when they face the Chicago Bulls.