Dirk Nowitzki should have been tired after playing 96 minutes in consecutive overtime losses. Instead, Nowitzki was at his best late when the Dallas Mavericks needed him most. "The first half I was a step slow. Then I got going. The guys kept us in it," Nowitzki said. "The second half, guys were looking for me. I got some good looks and got into the game." Nowitzki scored 31 of his 35 points in the second half, and 21 in the fourth quarter Wednesday night when the Mavericks rallied for a 117-110 victory over the Houston Rockets, whose playoff hopes took another blow with their fifth consecutive loss.
