The Rockets (8-7, 2-2) were eliminated from NBA in-season tournament competition after Tuesday’s 121-115 loss (box score) to the Dallas Mavericks (11-6, 2-2) at American Airlines Center. Houston is now 0-6 in road games in the 2023-24 season to date.
With a 3-1 mark within the group, New Orleans advances to the quarterfinals stage out of Western Conference Group B.
All-Star guard and perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic led Dallas with a game-high 41 points and 9 assists, shooting 15-of-29 from the field (51.7%). Backcourt mate Kyrie Irving added 27 points and 5 assists, though Houston held him to 8-of-22 shooting (36.4%).
For the Rockets, who led by 9 points late in the third quarter before being outscored 37-27 in the fourth quarter, standouts included:
- Alperen Sengun: 31 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists; 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%), 11-of-14 on free throws (78.6%)
- Fred VanVleet: 10 points, 12 assists, 3-of-7 shooting (42.9%)
- Dillon Brooks: 16 points, 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 6 fouls
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7-of-11 shooting (60.0%)
- Jalen Green: 12 points, 4 assists, 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%)
- Tari Eason: 11 points, 8 rebounds in 21 minutes; 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%)
The Rockets connected on just 8-of-27 from 3-point range (29.6%) as a team, which wasn’t enough versus a high-octane opponent.
Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews following Tuesday’s game in Dallas, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for Houston is night two of a road back-to-back on Wednesday in Denver (12-6), where tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. Central.
Nov. 28 Rockets-Mavericks reaction
The difference right now is the Mavs have two superstars and two closers. The Rockets need someone to step up to win this game
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) November 29, 2023
Just not our night and not enough closing discipline / firepower.
Regroup and keep building.
Will be a tough game in Denver too.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) November 29, 2023
This game was a good one and came down to the wire, but #Rockets struggle from three and can't slow the Mavs in the fourth, losing 121-115 in Dallas. The loss eliminates Houston from the In-Season Tournament and drops them to 0-6 on the road this season.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) November 29, 2023
The craziest thing about this call is that Scott Foster CONFIRMED it as a foul after review https://t.co/mlUDNYOlsk
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 29, 2023
The Thunder, Clippers, Kings, Warriors, Nuggets and Timberwolves are the teams the Rockets are only scheduled to play three times, so their extra games will come against two of those six https://t.co/yQpqVAoMXd
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) November 29, 2023
So many mental errors by rockets tonight.
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) November 29, 2023
Jalen Green has to be better than this. Simple. Nothing more that needs to be said.
This team is clearly one Jalen Green leap away from play-in team to a straight up playoff team.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) November 29, 2023
Man, Jalen Green is a frustrating player sometimes. #Rockets
— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) November 29, 2023
Tough loss.
Rockets remain winless on the road and are eliminated from the play in tournament.
Alperen Sengun, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith and Tari Eason played well. Another painful stinker for Jalen outside of Toyota Center.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) November 29, 2023
Gotta. Especially on the road. https://t.co/uEFVq0ZWYY
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) November 29, 2023
As he continues his return from the leg stress reaction, Tari Eason played a season-high 21 minutes tonight, and he said yesterday he should be available to play in the back-to-back, so that probably explains why he didn't play more in this game
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) November 29, 2023
Ime Udoka said this was not their smartest game. He said they had multiple players commit "dumb fouls" to put them at the line.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) November 29, 2023
Rockets guards have generally been invisible in the fourth quarter tonight. You can't beat really good teams when that happens
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) November 29, 2023
Brutal turnover there by Jalen Green. That handle still needs tightening.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 29, 2023
Jalen Green looks like he doesn't wanna be on the court. Shouldn't be allowed to play down the stretch on the road until he earns it
— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) November 29, 2023
Dirk after this Alperen Sengun fadeaway:
"That's beautiful right there."
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 29, 2023
Rockets lost but Alperen Sengun has to be the leading candidate for the most improved player. 31 9 6 for Sengun. I think we are getting close to removing "in the making" from star in the making for Sengun
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) November 29, 2023
TARI EASON IS ALL DAWG pic.twitter.com/nMmo1VVkLt
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) November 29, 2023
Tari Eason. Relentless.
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) November 29, 2023
The only 5-man lineup with 500+ points this season:
— Fred VanVleet
— Dillon Brooks
— Jalen Green
— Alperen Sengun
— Jabari Smith JrAnd shooting 50/41/83% splits when they’re on the floor together. pic.twitter.com/r62pEZGiRH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 28, 2023
Scott Foster finds an inbounds call benefitting Dallas on a replay that literally didn't show it conclusive in any angle…then calls a shooting foul on the floor for an additional three Dallas free throws. Now Dillon Brooks just fouled out on a flop. Just amazing work. #Rockets
— Adam Clanton (@adamclanton) November 29, 2023
Luka's reaction to Dillon Brooks' miss 😂 pic.twitter.com/4rbce2Cmkf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 29, 2023
I believe the consolation games will play on Wednesday and Friday next week. #Rockets https://t.co/8Q1wZg6hPb
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) November 29, 2023
Jabari was incredible this game. The turnarounds are becoming a staple as they should. It’s a great change up for the offense, particularly when he finds himself with a guard switched onto him. There were a couple of defensive possessions where he was able to step up and contest…
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) November 29, 2023
Ime Udoka says he told the #Rockets they played well enough to win, but not smart enough to.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) November 29, 2023
The Pistons have a road win this season. So do the Wizards. And the Grizzlies.
The #Rockets remain the league’s only winless road team.
— David Weiner #🟦 (@BimaThug) November 29, 2023
They failed the test. Luka and Kyrie combined for 68 points on great efficiency with 0 turnovers.
It was surprising to watch FVV be unable to provide a positive defensive impact, even against someone like Kyrie who's roughly his size. https://t.co/ODXmX1KY4T
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) November 29, 2023
After the #Rockets 121-115 loss at Mavs, HC Ime Udoka, "Like I told the team, we played well enough to win, not smart enough to win." He talked about how they made some dumb fouls at end of the 3rd quarter & some other ill-timed, unnecessary fouls at other points in the game.
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) November 29, 2023
Ime Udoka was frustrated postgame with the #Rockets fouling.
Said many were "dumb, unintelligent" plays.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) November 29, 2023
Asked Dillon Brooks about Ime Udoka's frustration with the foul late on Derrick Jones Jr:
"Yea that was stupid of me. That's like some year three sh*t. Take that as ownership at a point we were down three. I take that wholeheartedly."
📺 https://t.co/qJwFZ9k0g2 pic.twitter.com/9Mx3OPkuQO
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) November 29, 2023
