What happened: Kevin Durant scored 28 points as the Houston Rockets fell to the Dallas Mavericks. Durant punctuated his performance with a slam that energized the Houston bench. The Mavericks finished ahead 116-111 as the game went final.

Why it matters: Durant continues to anchor Houston's rotation as the primary scoring option. The loss marks a setback against an in-state rival following previous regular-season encounters. Houston will look to recalibrate its offense after failing to complete the comeback.

What to watch: The Rockets move forward in their regular-season schedule seeking to bounce back from the road defeat.