Notables from 96-83 win at Houston

POST-GAME NOTES
Houston Rockets (12-12) vs. Dallas Mavericks (16-9)
Dec. 15, 2007 -- Toyota Center
Final Score: Dallas 96, Houston 83

Houston Leaders
Points: Yao Ming-28
Rebounds: Yao Ming-14
Assists: Yao Ming-3, Tracy McGrady-3, Steve Francis-3

Dallas Leaders
Points: Josh Howard-23
Rebounds: Dirk Nowitzki-6
Assists: Dirk Nowitzki-8

* Tonight's attendance of 18,307 marks Houston's largest crowd of the season and the eighth overall sellout at Toyota Center in 2007-08.
* Houston's 96-83 loss tonight snapped its three-game home winning streak. The Rockets have now lost six consecutive meetings with the Mavericks, including the last three at Toyota Center .
* The Mavericks connected on 36-of-71 (.507) from the field and 17-of-18 (.944) from the free throw line, becoming the first team this season to shoot .500 or better against the Rockets while connecting on .900 or better from the foul line.
* Dallas also outscored the Rockets 30-20 in the third quarter, forcing nine Houston turnovers in that period.
* Houston out-rebounded Dallas 40-29 (+11) tonight, marking the seventh time this season the Rockets have out-rebounded an opponent by a double-digit margin.
* The Rockets actually held the Mavericks to 13 points in the second quarter, which matched the opponent season low for that period. The Spurs also managed just 13 second-quarter points against the Rockets at Houston (11/6/07).
* Yao Ming finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Overall, Yao has outscored his counterparts, Gana Diop (12) and Erick Dampier (2), by a 79-14 margin over the three games played between the Rockets and Mavericks this season. Yao also had 30 points, a season-high 15 rebounds and a season-best six blocked shots in the last meeting vs. Dallas(11/21/07) at Toyota Center, while Diop and Dampier both went scoreless in that game.
* Yao Ming actually had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the first half of tonight's game. It marked the first time this season and the eighth time in his career to post a double-double by halftime. His last time to accomplish this was 20 points and 10 boards over the first two quarters at the L.A. Lakers (4/2/06).
* Shane Battier, who took four stitches to close a cut on his head suffered in the first quarter, hit 3-of-5 3-pointers en route to 11 points.
* Tracy McGrady also suffered a bruised left knee in tonight's game, but returned for the start of the third quarter.
* Steve Francis got the start for Houston tonight with Rafer Alston out as a precautionary measure with a sore groin.
* Josh Howard (23) and Dirk Nowitzki (20) led five Mavericks in double-figure scoring tonight. Dallas has now had two players reach 20 or more points in each of the three meetings this season (Terry-31 and Jo. Howard-21 on 11/5/07; Harris-22 and Jo. Howard-20 on 11/21/07).