GDT: Mavs @ Rockets 01/24/16 2:30pm CT

[Underdog]

Chandler Parsons is emerging into a key role midway through the season after a long road back from injury, but Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is calling on his entire team to turn in more complete performances.

The forward will try to continue doing his part Sunday against his former team in Houston as the Rockets try to work their own recently returned forward into the mix.

The Mavericks (25-20) got 26 points from Parsons in Friday's 109-106 home loss to Oklahoma City, and he's averaged 24.0 while shooting 57.4 percent and hitting 11 of 18 from 3-point range over his last three games.

Parsons has played in 37 games this season with the occasional day off while working his way back from hybrid microfracture surgery on his right knee, and the first 34 came with the 27-year-old averaging 9.6 points and shooting 45.7 percent.

"Just trying to string a couple together," Parsons told the team's official website. "You know, it wasn't enough tonight, but it felt great. My knee felt great, and I'm shooting the ball at a very high level of confidence right now.

"From that point, it's a positive. But I still forced some bad ones and missed some ones that I should make right now. It's just tough to play that hard, fight, give ourselves a chance and come up a little short."

It was an overall improvement for the Mavs, who hit 46.0 percent following a 3-2 span in which they were limited to 40.2, but Carlisle still found plenty to criticize.

"We missed too many 50-50 balls," he said. "We got killed on the boards. It's not all about scoring. There are just too many other things that went wrong. The third quarter was a debacle. That was very poorly played by us and really well played by them. That doomed us."

That disadvantage is nothing new for Dallas, which has lost the battle on the boards by an average of 6.1 over a 3-4 span, including a minus-4.9 mark on the offensive glass.

The Mavs are beginning a three-game trip as Houston (23-22) concludes a three-game homestand. The teams have split two meetings this season with the Mavericks winning the first in Houston 110-98 on Nov. 14.

The Rockets are coming off a 102-98 win over Milwaukee on Friday in which they welcomed back Josh Smith, who played in Houston for the second half of last season before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. He was traded back to the Rockets earlier in the day and debuted immediately, though he had just two points on 1-of-10 shooting.

It was his first game under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who's looking beyond Smith's finishing in terms of carving out his role.

"The thing that's important for us is Josh's ability to pass the ball," Bickerstaff said. "It's infectious when he makes the extra passes over and over again and everybody's a recipient of it."

James Harden scored 30 points and continued to impress from beyond the arc. The league's No. 2 scorer has averaged 28.5 points over his last four games while connecting on 14 of 29 from 3-point range, though he's been held to 34.1 percent overall and 2 of 12 from outside against Dallas this season.

Fellow guard Patrick Beverley has missed two straight games with a sprained left ankle, though he said he expects to face the Mavericks.

Dwight Howard is expected to remain out after sitting out Friday with his own left ankle injury.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828552

[BPo001]

No D12 will be a big help. Let's hope the Mavs are ready for this early tip off!

[Melonhead]

I expect dirk to sit...or kind of hope he does. Early start time/knee swelling etc. I dont want to aggravate it, especially with more tough games ahead.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I expect dirk to sit...or kind of hope he does. Early start time/knee swelling etc. I dont want to aggravate it, especially with more tough games ahead.

Dirk-Probable
Zaza-OUT
Evans-OUT


Salah, anyone? With Howard out, I want to see him get HEAVY meaningful minutes.

[yahyes]

Ugh.. this is a terrible time to start when there is interesting football games on. Well then I can skip the AFC championship to watch my Mavs. I can watch the NFC later. Big division game. Would be sweet to steal a win.

[CGM]

...the Croquettes lose today simply because God and the universe hate James Harden and his nasty beard....

Mavs - 108
Croquettes - 102

[Kante]

D-Will, Matthews, Parsons, Dirk & SALAH MEJRI

EKS.

[EricaLubarsky]

Hopefully Mejri earns some more minutes

Also, Matthews going to do some work on Harden. Hopefully the refs let him

Harden against Matthews
34.1% FG
16.7% 3pt
5 TOPG

Then again, he's also averaging 9.5 FTA per game

[TheSportyChannel]

Early Game but I like it. Go Mavs!

[TheSportyChannel]

Mejri with the first basket for the mavs!

[TheSportyChannel]

Mejri with the 2nd basket for the mavs

[BPo001]

We might be the worst rebounding team in the league.

[TheSportyChannel]

Horrible start for the mavs as the Rockets lead 12-4. Parsons defense been terrible and Ariza already with back 2 back 3's

[EricaLubarsky]

Well, Mejri is hot.

Mejri 100%
Rest of team 0%

[EricaLubarsky]

Try to get within three feet of 3pt shooters and we may be okay

[TheSportyChannel]

4 3's already for Ariza and has 14 already. Pretty much it has been Mavs vs Ariza.

[BPo001]

Horrible turnover.

[TheSportyChannel]

MEJRI!!!!6 points already!

[TheSportyChannel]

Mejri with the rejection!

[yahyes]

Mejri has it down low. Now it's up to scorers to get their scoring flow in. Guards/Parsons.

[TheSportyChannel]

Parsons on fire lol

[BPo001]

Does someone want to stick a hand in Ariza's face?

[TheSportyChannel]

Ariza with another 3. 5 for 5 from the 3 pointer

[TheSportyChannel]

Mejri with the put back dunk. 8 points!

[turin]

Mejri is looking good! Halfway into the season and this guy is just now getting to play? WTF?

[Bryan_Wilson]

Why do we have Wes double Terrence freaking Jones on the baseline with Mejri on him and leave Ariza, who was 4/4 from 3 at that point, wide open in the corner? And on top of that Felton ball watches and doesn't follow him to the corner...

[BPo001]

Looked like Wes had a layup before he kicked it to CP in the corner.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Looked like Wes had a layup before he kicked it to CP in the corner.

Yeah he did =/

[DGM]

Defense is horrible. Very few contested shots for Houston.

[BPo001]

That's a foul, ref!

[TheSportyChannel]

I'm done with JJ Barea. Trade him Cubes!

[TheSportyChannel]

Same for Charlie V. He sucks

[yahyes]

Just keep it close, Mavs.

[TheSportyChannel]

AND 1 Felton!!

[BPo001]

Late whistle there. Ref waiting to see if the shot went in first?

[EricaLubarsky]

Villanueva really isn't an NBA player

[BPo001]

Glad to see Powell in and Charlie out. CV doesn't bring much when his shot isn't falling.

[TheSportyChannel]

Dirk for 3! Mavs down 4

[BPo001]

He's not dressed today, but I'd like to see Evans start to take over CV's minutes.

[BPo001]

Josh Smith hits that shit? Got to be kidding me.