Late-half meltdown

Dirk Nowitzki picked up his third foul while trying to guard Shane Battier on a baseline drive with 2:03 to go in the half.

Nowitzki took a seat, Battier made a 3-point play and it was the start of a 12-5 close-out to the half for the Rockets.

That left them up 56-47. The Rockets are shooting 55 percent, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, where they have outscored the Mavericks 15-0.