The Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 111-107 at the Toyota Center in a Saturday matchup that began at 5:30 AM on February 1, 2026.
Houston controlled much of the night but had to survive a late rally from rookie star Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks.
The win improved the Rockets to 30-17 and strengthened their dominant home record, while Dallas fell to 19-30 on the season.
First Half – Houston Sets Early Control
Houston opened with efficient ball movement and interior scoring from Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.
The Rockets led after both opening quarters while Dallas relied heavily on Flagg to stay close offensively.
Despite the Mavericks’ shooting efficiency, Houston’s rebounding and pace created separation by halftime.
First Half Score Timeline
| Quarter | Mavericks | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 28 | 31 |
| 2nd | 23 | 28 |
| Halftime | 51 | 59 |
• Rockets controlled tempo early
• Flagg carried Dallas scoring
• Houston advantage inside
Third Quarter – Momentum Swings
A Josh Okogie three-pointer pushed Houston’s lead to 13 midway through the third period.
Dallas responded with a 13-5 run led by Flagg and perimeter shooting to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks briefly regained confidence as their defensive pressure improved.
Key Performers
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | 34 | 12 | 5 |
| Amen Thompson | Rockets | 21 | 8 | 9 |
| Alperen Sengun | Rockets | 14 | 14 | 7 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Rockets | 19 | 8 | 2 |
| Tari Eason | Rockets | 17 | 7 | 3 |
• Dallas late third-quarter push
• Houston interior presence
• Game tightened entering fourth
Fourth Quarter – Clutch Finish
Houston extended the lead again before Dallas mounted a final comeback to tie the game in the closing minutes.
An alley-oop dunk from Amen Thompson put the Rockets ahead before baskets from Flagg and Naji Marshall briefly leveled the score.
Sengun converted a go-ahead layup with 28.6 seconds remaining and Tari Eason followed with a dunk after a defensive stop.
Flagg missed a potential tying three-pointer in the final seconds as Houston secured the victory.
Final Quarter Breakdown
| Quarter | Mavericks | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 31 | 28 |
| 4th | 25 | 24 |
| Final | 107 | 111 |
• Thompson late alley-oop
• Sengun go-ahead basket
• Eason sealing dunk
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category | Mavericks | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 45% | 42% |
| 3PT % | 43% | 38% |
| Free Throw % | 58% | 73% |
| Rebounds | 48 | 53 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 6 |
| Largest Lead | 2 | 13 |
• Rockets rebounding edge
• Dallas shooting efficiency higher
• Houston controlled game flow
Houston’s balanced scoring and late execution proved decisive despite Flagg’s 34-point performance.
The Rockets maintained composure in the closing possessions to complete a hard-fought home victory.
