|
 Encouragement, however, was welcome, and when Houston Rockets coach
Kevin McHale made clear to Smith just how much Smith would be needed
in a sluggish back-and-forth affair Tuesday night, the reserve
forward responded with jolt of effectiveness that turned the game on
its ear.
Smith delivered a momentum-altering passing exhibition, and the
Rockets pulled away from the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter
of Game 2 in this Western Conference first round series, claiming a
111-99 victory at Toyota Center and a 2-0 series advantage.
Smith finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and nine assists,
including seven assists in the fourth quarter. During one decisive
stretch, he fed center Dwight Howard (28 points, 12 rebounds) on
four alley-oop dunks, flipping a three-point deficit into a 94-86
lead.
"My coaching staff, my teammates kept me mentally focused on the
game," Smith said. "I just tried to come in the second half and be
an impact player. That's what I was able to do. I tried to fly
around and just be a nuisance on the defensive end, and offensively
be unselfish."
By the midpoint of Game 2, Smith had missed 13 of 19 shots in the
series and committed five turnovers against just one assist. In the
second half Tuesday night he scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting,
grabbed six rebounds and dished out nine assists with one turnover.
Smith was frustrated by the intermission, largely a byproduct of
three fouls that he found disputable. The second half was altogether
different.
"I told him, "Hey, just hang in there and don't let the fouls take
you out of the game,'" McHale said of his halftime conversation with
Smith. "'We need a huge, big second half out of you.' And he
delivered."
Smith also converted a driving layup during that run, and he tallied
the final basket for Houston with a thunderous dunk at the 2:15 mark
working the pick-and-roll with guard James Harden (24 points, six
assists), who watched most of the runaway cheering from the bench.
Reserve forward Corey Brewer added 15 points for the Rockets, who
will look to take a stranglehold on the series on Friday night in
Dallas.
The Mavericks lead 84-81 before falling apart. Guard Monta Ellis
tallied 24 points while forward Dirk Nowitzki missed 11 of 14 shots
and finished with just 10 points. Nowitzki was victimized repeatedly
on defense in the pick-and-roll, a clear point of emphasis for the
Rockets.
"We obviously paid a lot of attention to James in the
pick-and-roll," Nowitzki said. "In the first two games they've been
slipping out and making plays.
"That's what we're giving up in our pick-and-roll coverage. We've
got to be a little better and not give up those lobs."
[to top of second column] |
The Rockets had the ingredients to build another first-quarter,
double-digit lead, with Dallas committing five turnovers by the
midpoint of the opening period and Harden making four field goals by
the 5:45 mark.
But the Rockets squandered several sound offensive sets by blowing
layups. And, after a 7-0 run out of the gate, they fell behind 22-20
when Mavericks reserve center Amar'e Stoudemire converted a
three-point play with 32.8 seconds left.
Without forward Chandler Parsons (right knee) and with guard Rajon
Rondo playing dispassionately (four points in 10 ineffective
minutes), Dallas dug deep into its bench. From Al-Farouq Aminu to
Raymond Felton to Stoudemire, Dallas found solutions to its
hamstrung rotation. While inspired, the Mavericks didn't have enough
to claim victory.
"I liked the way they played," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.
"It's not about one guy. It's about the team and the organization
and the franchise. We have to collectively play our butts off.
That's what the playoffs are about."
NOTES: Mavericks F Chandler Parsons did not play, sidelined by a
balky right knee that cost him the final six games of the regular
season. Parsons scored just 10 points on 5-for-15 shooting in Game
1, limping throughout the second half of this 37-minute outing.
There are reports that Parsons, who will be re-evaluated when the
team returns to Dallas, could miss the remainder of the series. "I'm
concerned -- period," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "That
(Parsons sitting out the entire series) does loom as a possibility,
but we'll know more tomorrow.' ... Mavericks G Devin Harris (left
toe injury) did not play and will be re-evaluated when the team
returns to Dallas. Harris sat out the second half of Game 1. ...
Rockets coach Kevin McHale finished sixth in Coach of the Year
balloting. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer won the award. Despite a
rash of injuries that ravaged his roster, McHale led the Rockets to
the Southwest Division title. He earned 13 third-place votes.
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