Mavs are listless in loss to Rockets

The suggestion was made by a respected team insider that the Mavericks were playing their most important game of the season Thursday night.

Some of his reasons:
• A win would snap a two-game losing streak to open a critical five-game stand at American Airlines Center.
• A win would snap Houston’s franchise-record 16-game winning streak and extend the Mavs’ home streak to 13.
• A win would also sweep the series with the Rockets, providing a mental edge against a possible playoff opponent.
• A win without Dirk Nowitzki would also big a confidence boost for a team in search of momentum.
• A win would also keep a one-game cushion in the loss column over eighth-place Golden State in the Western Conference standings.

So what does a loss mean? At this point, it’s anyone’s guess, but the immediate fallout from the 113-98 setback to Houston wasn’t pretty. The Mavs vowed before the game that they needed to get on a roll and take command of their destiny, much as the Rockets have the last five weeks.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Avery Johnson said. “We don’t have a swagger yet. We better get one pretty soon.”

Two of the main attractions – Nowitzki and Yao Ming – were sidelined and the reasons why were as different as how each team dealt with each absence. The Rockets haven’t missed a beat without their All-Star center, winning their last five since his foot injury to extend their run to 17.

Are the Mavs feeling pressure to turn it around? Devin Harris and the New Jersey Nets are on tap Saturday.

“Well, yeah, it’s evident and we have to have a big performance to snap out of this thing and everyone has to look at themselves and see what each individual can do better within the team concept and we have to get in rolling,” said Jason Terry, scoreless in the second half after netting 17 points in the first.

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