Houston had 20 offensive rebounds, 15 extra field-goal attempts and two late tying baskets. Dallas still won 116-111 on Friday. Before reducing that result to a Mavericks comeback story, give the Rockets their part: they made Dallas work for nearly every inch, then left points available when the gap was smallest.
Houston also had the cleanest chances to change the ending. Durant missed two free throws with 1:53 remaining, then Amen Thompson missed two more with 42 seconds left. Those four shots do not explain the entire game, and they do not require a theory about nerve or intent. They do explain why a competitive Rockets performance became a Dallas win instead of a final-possession argument.
The Mavericks had to withstand real pressure first. Houston attempted 96 field goals to Dallas’ 81, largely because of the second chances created by Eason and Capela. Eason finished with eight offensive rebounds and 13 total rebounds. Capela added six offensive boards and 11 rebounds, while Houston scored 46 points in the paint.
That possession advantage gave the Rockets a sturdy route back into the game. VanVleet’s three tied the score at 96 with 4:21 left, and his driving shot made it 100-100 with 2:26 remaining. Those were not empty stretches of Houston hanging around; the Rockets repeatedly found a way to turn a Dallas lead into another close possession.
Durant supplied the late scoring that made the finish uncomfortable. After Cooper Flagg’s basket and free throw pushed Dallas ahead 105-100, Durant answered with a pull-up jumper and a free throw. His jumper with 59.9 seconds left cut the margin to 107-105. Houston’s best player was still creating points, and VanVleet had already delivered the shot that erased one Dallas lead.
Then came the first opening. With Dallas ahead 102-100 at 1:53, Durant went to the line for two attempts and missed both. The score remained 102-100. Dallas did not need a dramatic defensive stand or an improbable shot to preserve the advantage; Flagg made a driving basket at 1:40 and added the free throw, making it 105-100.
Thompson reached the line with 42 seconds left and Houston trailing 107-105. Two makes would have tied the game. Both missed, so Dallas retained its two-point lead. Flagg then scored at 24.3 seconds, and Smith’s three at 15.8 seconds left Houston behind 109-108. The Rockets were still close, but the empty trip had made another successful shot necessary just to reduce the deficit.
The distinction is important because the final sequence was not predetermined by the missed free throws. Dallas still had to make its plays. Flagg hit a turnaround jumper with 24.3 seconds left, Gafford made both free throws with 11.3 seconds remaining, and Kyrie Irving converted four foul shots during the final 6.2 and 3.1 seconds.
Houston continued scoring, but Dallas kept extending the margin by one precise possession at a time.
