Mavericks beat Rockets behind Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki

Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki combined for 72 points to beat Dwight Howard and the Rockets.

Ellis had a season-high 37 and Dirk had 35, 14 of which came during the Mavs' fourth quarter comeback. Dwight Howard had a season-high 33 but it just wasn't enough as the Rockets fell to Dallas 123-120 on Wednesday night.

As much as the Mavs pursued Howard on the offseason, they seem very content with the two guards they settled for instead in Ellis and Jose Calderon. According to ESPN Nowitzki can't say enough about Ellis.

"We're really just playing off of him," Nowitzki said. "He's been aggressive, he's been shooting the ball well, but what's been great is that he has been making plays for others. He's making all of us better."

The Rockets played well early and were up by as much as 18 at one point Houston Chronicle reports, but it all fell apart late. Howard made his first 11 field goals but only went 1-for-5 in the fourth quarter, when it mattered.

“We went away from what got us the lead,” said Howard. “We’ve got to do a better job of doing what we do to get leads and continue to do that late in the game.

The Mavericks are now 6-0 at home and if Ellis keeps playing the way he is, I don't see any reason that Dallas slows up.

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