Irving returns with 17 as Dallas beats Houston 132-115 in Macao
Dallas beat Houston 132-115 in a Macao preseason game on 11 October, with Kyrie Irving scoring 17 in 22 minutes and the two-game set finishing level at one win apiece.
Dallas beat Houston 132-115 in a preseason game at the Venetian Arena on 11 October, the second of two games there that Eurohoops placed in Macao, according to Pacy's match stats.
Houston had taken the first game 135-117 on 9 October, per Eurohoops, so the two-game Macao set finished at one win each. In that first game, Eurohoops reported, Alperen Sengun posted a triple-double for Houston, with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just under 22 minutes. Pacy's match stats put the attendance at 11,711.
Every quarter went Dallas's way
Dallas won the first quarter 28-27, the second 30-24, the third 37-34 and the fourth 37-30. Those margins were one, six, three and seven points, so no single period produced the 17-point gap. Dallas scored 58 in the first half and 74 after the break, Houston 51 and 64. The lead changed hands 12 times, but Dallas led for 70% of the game and built a largest lead of 19.
Irving's first game back
Per Eurohoops, Dallas rested Irving for the 9 October game because of a left knee issue, and he was scheduled to play this rematch, which would be his first game action in 19 months. The box score shows he did play: 22 minutes, 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 2-of-6 from three and 3-of-3 from the line, plus 2 rebounds, 3 assists, no turnovers and a +2 plus-minus.
The numbers behind the win
Pacy's match stats have Dallas shooting 41-of-85 from the field (48 percent) and Houston 37-of-90 (41 percent).
| Team stat | Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 41-85 (48%) | 37-90 (41%) |
| Three-pointers | 15-40 (38%) | 14-47 (30%) |
| Free throws | 35-39 (90%) | 27-36 (75%) |
| Total rebounds (offensive) | 46 (15) | 50 (21) |
| Assists | 28 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 22 |
| Points in the paint | 50 | 40 |
| Fast-break points | 24 | 11 |
| Steals | 12 | 10 |
| Blocks | 10 | 7 |
| Largest lead | 19 | 7 |
Houston won the boards 50-46 and the offensive glass 21-15, but Dallas moved the ball better, with 28 assists to 19, and scored more in the paint (50 to 40) and on the break (24 to 11). Houston's 22 turnovers cost it 32 points, against 23 conceded by Dallas, and Dallas went 35-of-39 at the line against Houston's 27-of-36.
Standout performers
Marcus Smart led Houston with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three. Reed Sheppard added 17 points on 4-of-10 three-point shooting, though he also committed 5 turnovers. Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 9 rebounds, Amen Thompson posted 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes, and Clint Capela had 9 rebounds and 5 points.
For Dallas, Zaccharie Risacher scored 16 on 7-of-13 shooting in 24 minutes, and Cooper Flagg had 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes, going 7-of-8 from the line; Eurohoops had him on 19 points in the first game. Daniel Gafford had 9 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes, and P.J. Washington added 10 points in 16 minutes.
Fouls and the free-throw line
Houston were called for 30 fouls to Dallas's 25. Dallas were charged with the game's only technical foul.