Monday, March 04, 2013
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Parsons scores 32 as Rockets beat Mavericks

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[March 04, 2013]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Chandler Parsons scored a career-high 32 points on 12-for-13 shooting and the Houston Rockets snapped a nine-game losing streak to Dallas with an easy 136-103 win over the Mavericks on Sunday night.

Jeremy Lin and James Harden added 21 points apiece and Lin had nine assists for the Rockets.

O.J. Mayo scored 18 points and Shawn Marion had 14 to lead the Mavericks, who dropped six games behind Houston for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.

Houston blew open a close game in the third quarter, outscoring Dallas 44-17. The Rockets hit 14 of 20 shots and converted six Mavericks' turnovers into 14 points.

The Rockets led 64-61 at halftime, then opened the third quarter with a 15-0 spurt. Parsons sank his third 3-pointer, and he and Lin finished fast-breaks with layups to push the lead into double digits. Vince Carter was whistled for an offensive foul as the Mavericks struggled.

Dallas missed its first six shots out of the break before Brandan Wright's driving layup. But the Rockets continued to hit all the open shots the Mavericks gave them and consecutive 3-pointers by Parsons and Harden pushed the lead to 25.

Parsons made his first 11 shots, then missed a 3-pointer, but that was about the only thing that didn't go the Rockets' way in the third quarter.

Carlos Delfino drove for a layup, and Patrick Beverley turned the Mavericks' 13th turnover into another easy basket and a 99-72 lead. Harden hit another 3 and Dirk Nowitzki lost the ball to Beverley at the other end. Nowitzki showed the Mavs' frustration when he gave Beverley a subtle hip check after the steal.

Dallas had as many turnovers as it had field goals (6) in the third quarter, and Beverley's layup just before the buzzer made it 108-78.

Rookie Thomas Robinson, acquired from Sacramento last week, had 10 points and eight rebounds for Houston.

Nowitzki was held to eight points and committed three turnovers for Dallas.

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The blowout was rare for the series. Each of the previous 11 meetings had been decided by 10 points or fewer and for a while, it looked like this one would stay close, too.

Dallas started 9 for 14 from the field and hit its first three shots from 3-point range. Harden, averaging 26.3 points per game, missed five of his first seven shots. When he missed another driving layup, Parsons dunked home the putback, two of his nine first-quarter points.

The Mavericks stretched the lead to eight early in the second quarter. Francisco Garcia, seeing his first action for Houston since he was traded from Sacramento last week, sank two 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper to close the gap.

Dallas started 8 for 15 from 3-point range and led 50-41 midway through the second quarter. Houston's starters were back on the floor by the 5-minute mark of the second quarter and the Rockets started to take control with a 14-4 run.

Houston's defense stiffened in the final minutes of the half, forcing six turnovers. Parsons had a 3-pointer, then added a breakaway dunk after a long pass from Lin to put Houston up 62-59. Parsons went 7 for 7 and scored 18 points and Lin had seven assists in the first half.

NOTES: Dallas G Anthony Morrow sat out with a hip injury. ... Nowitzki, averaging 21.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in his previous five games, went 2 for 8 from the field and had only four rebounds. ... Houston's 44 third-quarter points was a high total for any quarter this season. ... The Rockets have hit at least 10 3-pointers in 35 games this season. ... Tracy McGrady, who played for Houston from 2004-10, had a courtside seat.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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