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Harden, Ariza combine for 43 points in gritty win over Mavericks

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports / reuterss

It wasn't easy, but the Houston Rockets clawed their way to a 108-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

It was a gritty affair in which the lead changed hands six times. Neither team was able to establish much of an edge, although the Mavericks did manage a short-lived 11-point advantage in the third quarter.

Leading the way for Houston was the swingman combination of Trevor Ariza and James Harden, which contributed 43 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. 

Harden wasn't nearly as hot as he was Wednesday when he scored a career-high 51 points, but he was strong defensively in spot minutes as a power forward and generated enough offense for his team to win.

Ariza chipped in when he could with clever passes and spot-up jump shots, but his biggest contribution was keeping Monta Ellis in check. Ellis shot just 7-of-21 en route to 19 points.

For the Mavericks, it was a balanced effort headed up by Dirk Nowitzki, who led the way with 21 points. Each Mavericks player chipped in at various times - Rajon Rondo had a six-point stretch in the second quarter, Al-Farouq Aminu was tremendous on defense, Amar'e Stoudemire had a few tough finishes in the post. However, no Mavericks stepped up in the fourth. Dallas managed just 18 points in the final frame to the Rockets' 31.

The win nudges the Rockets a half-game up on the fading Memphis Grizzlies for second in the West. Dallas's loss, meanwhile, cements its position as the seventh seed.

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