Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats: Rockets Edge Battle of Texas

The Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets clash on January 31, 2026 delivered one of the most gripping editions of the Battle of Texas rivalry this season, with the Rockets edging a 111-107 victory at Toyota Center in Houston. The match player stats told the story of a night dominated by individual brilliance, defensive intensity, and a dramatic closing sequence that ultimately went the Rockets’ way.

Cooper Flagg was the statistical standout of the evening despite being on the losing side. The 19-year-old Dallas rookie posted 34 points and 12 rebounds, a monster performance that came just 24 hours after he had set the NBA record for points scored by a teenager, putting up 49 in a loss to Charlotte. Flagg’s athleticism, shot creation, and composure under pressure underlined why he was the consensus number one pick in the 2025 draft. His late-game contributions kept the Mavericks in contention, including a driving layup that briefly tied the score at 107 with less than a minute remaining.

For Houston, Amen Thompson orchestrated the victory with 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, a complete performance from the dynamic guard who has established himself as one of the most impactful young players in the Western Conference. Thompson’s alley-oop dunk put the Rockets four ahead with under two minutes left, and he played a key role in manufacturing the crucial possessions that sealed the result. Alperen Sengun contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds, his interior presence proving decisive as Dallas struggled to contain his physicality in pick-and-roll situations.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points for Houston, shooting efficiently and hitting multiple key shots during a third-quarter run that stretched the Rockets’ lead to 11. Tari Eason’s dunk with 14.4 seconds remaining made it a four-point game and ended any realistic prospect of a Mavericks comeback.

Dallas were without Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II through injury, absences that significantly weakened their rotation depth and placed enormous pressure on Flagg to carry the offensive burden. Naji Marshall chipped in with a late basket, and Klay Thompson hit consecutive three-pointers during a fourth-quarter run that briefly hauled Dallas back to within eight, but the Rockets’ defensive structure held firm when it mattered most.

The result left Houston at 30-17 on the season, one of the stronger records in the Western Conference, while Dallas dropped to 19-30 in a difficult campaign shaped heavily by injury disruption. The rivalry, which dates back to 1980 and now sits at 107-98 in Houston’s favour in the regular season series, continues to produce compelling basketball with genuine playoff implications for both franchises.