The Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline ended with Houston surviving a frantic closing minute on Saturday night, February 1, 2026, as the Rockets held on for a 111-107 home win after a tipoff that came at 8 p.m. local time in Houston.
Amen Thompson set the tone with a near triple-double, finishing with 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as Houston improved to 30-17 and continued to protect a strong home record.
Dallas, which entered at 19-30 and struggling on the road, got a huge night from rookie Cooper Flagg, who poured in 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to keep the Mavericks within striking distance all the way to the final possession.
Houston’s execution in the last 30 seconds, highlighted by Alperen Sengun’s go-ahead layup and a sealing dunk by Tari Eason, ultimately separated the teams in a game that featured multiple momentum swings.
- Houston closed with poise after Dallas pulled even late.
- Thompson’s all-around line anchored the Rockets on both ends.
- Flagg’s scoring carried Dallas through several comeback pushes.
Game flow table
| Team | Record | Location split | Final | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 19-30 | 5-16 away | 107 | 28 | 23 | 31 | 25 |
| Houston Rockets | 30-17 | 17-4 home | 111 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline: First quarter sparks and early punches
The Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline opened with Houston winning the jump, and the Rockets quickly found rhythm with defensive rebounds that ignited early offense.
Dallas scored first through P.J. Washington’s driving floater at 11:19 of the first, but Houston answered with Tari Eason’s three-pointer at 10:32, assisted by Thompson, to tilt the early scoring back toward the home side.
The Rockets kept generating extra chances, including several offensive team rebounds, and Kevin Durant began to settle Houston with midrange makes and quick pullups.
Dallas leaned into Flagg’s aggressiveness early as well, with the rookie getting to the line at 8:15 and later finishing drives as Houston tried to rotate bodies in front of him.
By the middle of the quarter, Houston’s spacing showed up when Josh Okogie drilled a three at 6:54, and the Rockets kept a slight edge through a fast, physical opening stretch.
- Dallas struck first, but Houston’s early threes flipped the pace.
- Thompson’s passing helped create clean perimeter looks.
- Flagg’s pressure at the rim forced fouls and rotations.
First-quarter scoring snapshots
| Game clock (Q1) | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:19 | DAL | P.J. Washington driving floater | DAL 2-0 |
| 10:32 | HOU | Tari Eason 3PT (Thompson AST) | HOU 3-2 |
| 10:15 | HOU | Thompson FT (2 of 2) | HOU 4-2 |
| 7:52 | HOU | Durant 2PT (Sengun AST) | 6-6 |
| 6:54 | HOU | Okogie 3PT (Durant AST) | HOU 9-8 |
| 6:34 | HOU | Thompson 2PT | HOU 11-8 |
| 5:00 | DAL | Brandon Williams 3PT | HOU 15-14 |
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline: Fourth-quarter pressure and the decisive final minute
The Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline tightened late after Houston built separation earlier in the second half, including a stretch where it led by as many as 13 following a Josh Okogie three about 5:30 into the third quarter.
Dallas answered with a 13-5 push to close the gap heading into the fourth, and the Mavericks continued to surge behind Flagg’s shot-making as the clock became a factor.
In the final two minutes, Thompson threw down an alley-oop dunk that put Houston up four, but Dallas immediately countered with baskets from Flagg and Naji Marshall to pull even about a minute later.
Sengun then delivered the pivotal moment, converting a layup with 28.6 seconds left to put the Rockets back in front.
After Flagg missed in the lane at the other end, Houston secured the rebound and Eason’s dunk with 14.4 seconds remaining made it 111-107, forcing Dallas into a final desperation look.
Flagg’s last three-point attempt bounced off the rim, ending the comeback and sealing a win built on timely execution rather than comfort.
- Houston’s late-game sequence featured a stop, a rebound, and a dunk to finish it.
- Dallas generated clean looks late but couldn’t convert the last shot.
- Sengun and Eason delivered the closing plays around Thompson’s creation.
Closing sequence table
| Time remaining | Team | Key moment | Score impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2:00 | HOU | Thompson alley-oop dunk | Rockets +4 |
| ~1:00 | DAL | Flagg and Marshall baskets | Game tied |
| 0:28.6 | HOU | Sengun go-ahead layup | Rockets lead |
| 0:14.4 | HOU | Eason dunk after rebound | Rockets up 4 |
| Final seconds | DAL | Flagg 3PT misses | Game ends |
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline: Leaders and quick comparison
The Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets timeline was defined by Houston’s balance and Dallas’ reliance on Flagg’s scoring.
Thompson’s 21-9-8 line drove Houston’s tempo, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points and Sengun posted 14 points and 14 rebounds to stabilize the interior.
For Dallas, Flagg’s 34 points and 12 rebounds stood out as another statement performance, coming two days after his record-setting 49-point game in a loss to Charlotte.
- Houston’s top trio combined scoring, rebounding, and playmaking in winning moments.
- Dallas got star production from Flagg but needed one more conversion late.
- The margins were slim, but Houston executed better in the final possessions.
Top contributors table
| Team | Player | Notable line |
|---|---|---|
| HOU | Amen Thompson | 21 PTS, 9 AST, 8 REB |
| HOU | Jabari Smith Jr. | 19 PTS |
| HOU | Alperen Sengun | 14 PTS, 14 REB |
| DAL | Cooper Flagg | 34 PTS, 12 REB |