Fouls and poor shooting doom Mavs as the comeback against the Houston Rockets ultimately falls short

After trailing by as many as 23 points, the Dallas Mavericks saved their best for last. It just wasn't enough.

The Mavericks almost survived a tight game and a slow offensive start. However, Jalen Green had other plans.

As the shot clock expired, Green hit a 3-pointer over Luka Doncic to give the Houston Rockets enough distance to leave Dallas with a 108-102 loss at American Airlines Center. Doncic countered with another three-pointer to bring the Mavericks within three points, but Rockets guard Amen Thompson fired a mid-range shot from the baseline, ending any chances of another comeback attempt.

In a tightly controlled game, the Mavericks struggled with foul trouble and failed to find any rhythm on offense, which was the main cause of the early double-digit deficit. Dallas fell to 3-2 while the Rockets improved to 3-2.

Dallas missed 13 of its first 21 shots in the first quarter, leading to an early 13-point deficit.

“We have to figure out how to get better starts,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “The slow start [had something to do with it]but the fouling and the rebounding, that's what matters. We need to be better in this area.”

Doncic, who averaged just 2.1 fouls last season, was whistled for his third foul with 3:19 left in the second quarter. The Mavericks star backpedaled in transition and punched the ball as Jabari Smith Jr. drove to the basket, but the referee ruled there was enough contact to merit a foul. Doncic held his hands up in disbelief and looked up at the jumbotron to check the replay. He repeatedly told the officer, “I didn’t touch him,” but the call persisted.

It was a microcosm of the Mavericks' frustration with the referees throughout the game, coupled with another poor shooting night. The Mavericks committed 27 personal fouls while the Rockets called for 20. Doncic finished the game with a team-high 25 points, scoring 15 of them in the fourth quarter. He made six of his eight attempts in the final 12 minutes but managed just six of 17 shots in the final three quarters.

“It’s on me,” Doncic said after the game. “I started pretty badly so I take the blame because I have to do better. I know I can do it. I just have to concentrate and play my game.”

It's only been five games, but Doncic is shooting a career-low 38% from the field (48 of 124) and 29% from distance. He converted just 14 of 48 from distance.

While a defeat is still a defeat, it didn't come without a spirited comeback. Dallas had a 25-9 record from the end of the third quarter to the 7:03 mark of the fourth quarter, which made the game interesting. Kyrie Irving played a key role in leading the comeback. He nearly achieved a triple-double with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Green finished the game with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Dillon Brooks also added 17 points. Brooks fully embraced his villain reputation and played a key role in ruining Halloween for every Mavericks fan in attendance. After his second 3-pointer of the first quarter, which forced Mavericks coach Jason Kidd to call a timeout, Brooks gave the crowd a nasty slap.

The Mavericks lost the first game of the season to their in-state rival, but they will have another chance when they visit the Rockets in Houston on New Year's Day.

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