GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (3-0) at DALLAS (2-1)

NBA: HOUSTON (3-0) at DALLAS (2-1)

<h3>Rockets look to continue fast start</h3>

<div class="pre">Houston (3-0) at Dallas (2-1) 8:30 pm EST</div>

DALLAS (Ticker) -- If the Houston Rockets hope to continue theirbest start in 11 seasons, they will need to stop a team comingoff its best shooting performance in more than two decades.

The Rockets will look to make it four wins in as many games whenthey meet their interstate rival, the Dallas Mavericks, for thefirst time this season on Monday.


Houston has won three games to open the season for the firsttime since 1996-97 when it was victorious in its first six enroute to a 57-25 finish.


The Rockets can attribute some of that success to the fact thatthey are getting it done on the defensive end. So far, theyhave allowed 89.3 points per game - the fifth-lowest average inthe NBA - a season after limiting opponents to 92.1, good forthe third-best mark in the league.


Houston needed that defense in an 89-80 win over Portland onSaturday, overcoming a season-low point total by limiting theTrail Blazers to 2-of-10 shooting on 3-pointers and causing 18turnovers.


The Rockets will need that defense to remain strong against itsSouthwest Division rival because Dallas is among the league'sbest shooting teams. With 51.8 percent shooting from the fieldthrough three games, the Mavericks trail only the New OrleansHornets in that category.


Dallas is coming off a 123-102 win over the Sacramento Kings onSaturday, a contest in which it shot 65.2 percent (45-of-69) tofall just shy of the team mark of 67.7 set on March 24, 1983.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON AT DALLAS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


HOUSTON DALLAS

F Shane Battier F Eddie Jones
F Chuck Hayes F Dirk Nowitzki
C Yao Ming C DeSagana Diop
G Tracy McGrady G Josh Howard
G Rafer Alston G Jose Barea

OFFICIALS: Jim Clark
Rodney Mott
Eric Lewis</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 9
DALLAS 7 9:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 11
DALLAS 13 5:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 19
DALLAS 19 3:03 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 29
DALLAS 24 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 29 29
DALLAS 24 24 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 12, RAFER ALSTON 5, SHANE
BATTIER 4
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 7, DESAGANA DIOP 6, JOSE
BAREA 4</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 33
DALLAS 33 9:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 38
DALLAS 39 6:14 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 47
DALLAS 43 2:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 51
DALLAS 50 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 29 22 51
DALLAS 24 26 50 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 19, YAO MING 12, RAFER
ALSTON 5
DAL - JASON TERRY 11, JOSH HOWARD 10, DIRK
NOWITZKI 10</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 56
DALLAS 59 9:04 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 63
DALLAS 63 5:39 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 70
DALLAS 70 2:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 75
DALLAS 77 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 29 22 24 75
DALLAS 24 26 27 77 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 28, YAO MING 17, RAFER
ALSTON 8
DAL - JASON TERRY 22, JOSH HOWARD 16, DIRK
NOWITZKI 12</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 81
DALLAS 82 9:02 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 88
DALLAS 89 5:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 92
DALLAS 98 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>