The Houston Rockets faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in a decisive match, ultimately securing a victory with a score of 110-99, ending their two-game losing streak. This season, the Rockets have now achieved a double-kill over the Mavericks, with Luka Doncic continuing to sit out due to rest, and Washington also sustaining an ankle injury after playing only 16 minutes, forcing him to withdraw from the game. Without Washington's strong presence at the power forward position, the Mavericks' depth appeared to be stretched thin. Kyrie Irving was also off his game, performing poorly in the first half before finding some momentum in the second half. On the Rockets' side, they were without Ison and Amen, who was suspended for two games, leaving the "Door God" duo absent.
Despite these absences, the Rockets' starting lineup remained intact, featuring Van Jordan, Jalen Green, Dillon, Smith, and Shen Jing. With Doncic out, the Rockets' strategy against the Mavericks was straightforward: focus on defending Irving, occasionally double-teaming him and forcing other Mavericks players to take on the offensive load. Initially, this tactic proved effective, but the Mavericks' outside shooting was accurate. Players like Dinwiddie, Thompson, and Washington were on fire, with LeFevre also scoring consistently, allowing the Mavericks to lead 30-24 in the first quarter, largely thanks to Jalen Green's scoring efforts.
In the second quarter, the Mavericks extended their lead to as much as 40-30, a 10-point advantage. Coach Udoka was forced to bring back Jalen Green and other starters, pairing them with the scoring prowess of White Moore. The combination of Green and White Moore proved devastating, as they relentlessly attacked, with White Moore scoring 6 out of 5 shots, including 2 out of 3 three-pointers and 1 out of 1 free throws, accumulating 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, boasting a +15 plus-minus. Jalen Green contributed 16 points. Under the leadership of Green and White Moore, the Rockets mounted a 37-22 run in the second quarter, turning a 10-point deficit into a 9-point lead.
The Rockets' morale soared, while the Mavericks' spirits plummeted. Washington's departure from the game dealt a fatal blow to the team, as they lost height at the power forward position, an outside shooter, and their defense weakened. The second half belonged to the Rockets, with everyone except Van Jordan, who continued his poor shooting form (0 out of 6), exploding offensively. Shen Jing dominated the Mavericks' paint, as the Rockets' opened up their outside shooting, drawing defensive attention and making Shen Jing's offensive plays easier. Smith also contributed with threes and dunks, as the Rockets' offense flowed freely, building a lead of as many as 17 points.
In the final quarter, the Mavericks fought hard but were unable to close the gap, as they struggled to contain the Rockets' offense. Irving, who is not primarily an organizing point but rather an attacking force, needed a ball-handling core to support him. In the end, when the game was at a stalemate, Irving would typically be the one to deliver the decisive blow. However, the Rockets did not allow Irving that opportunity, as the game was effectively decided early. Previously, the Rockets had blown a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves and had been reversed. Then, against the Heat, they once led by 15 points in the third quarter but were ultimately reversed. The Rockets also suffered the suspension of Amen as a result.
In this game, the Rockets finally seized the opportunity and avoided being reversed for the third consecutive time. Throughout the game, Irving scored 16 points for the Mavericks, Thompson added 16 points, and LeFevre contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks. For the Rockets, Jalen Green scored 22 points, delivering a solid performance on both offense and defense. Shen Jing had a remarkable second half, finishing with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals, performing like a god descending from heaven. Dillon scored 19 points, Smith added 12 points, and Whitmore shot 9 out of 7, including 4 out of 3 three-pointers, scoring 18 points in just 24 minutes of play. Van Jordan, on the other hand, shot a dismal 8 out of 1, scoring only 5 points. For the Rockets, it seems that Van Jordan can indeed be let go, as the team is unlikely to exercise the final year of his team option. It is estimated that Stone will not choose to re-sign with Van Jordan either.
The reality is clear: Van Jordan is simply too mediocre. Earning a salary of 40 million dollars, he averages only 15 points with a meager shooting percentage of 37.5%. Even with significant ball-handling opportunities in the Rockets' system, Van Jordan performs worse than Schroder. It's no wonder the Rockets have recently set their sights on Fox. If there's a way to trade Van Jordan for Fox, the Rockets' defense would not decline, and their offense would see a significant improvement. Currently, American media reports that the Kings are very fond of Sheppard, who has little playing time left with the Rockets. There might be an opportunity for him if he were to join the Kings.