Rockets 117, Mavericks 115: Chandler Parsons led the way with 26 points as visiting Houston held off a late charge and edged Dallas.

Dwight Howard added 21 points and Jeremy Lin contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets, who snapped a three-game slide. Terrence Jones scored 16 points while Donatas Motiejunas collected his first career double-double with 12 points and 13 boards off the bench for Houston.

Dirk Nowitzki recorded 38 points and a season-high 17 rebounds but never got a chance at the final shot for the Mavericks. Vince Carter scored 22 points off the bench and Devin Harris had 14 for Dallas.

Nowitzki found Brandan Wright for a layup that cut it to 98-95 with 7:48 remaining but Patrick Beverley capped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer to spread it back out. The Rockets made the mistake of fouling both Carter and Harris on 3-point attempts and both hit all three free throws before Carter connected from beyond the arc and Nowitzki hit two from the line to cut it to 117-115, but Jose Calderon misfired twice from 3-point range on the final possession as the comeback came up short.

The Rockets took a 63-57 advantage into the break and scored the first six points of the third to spread the lead to double figures before the Mavericks began to battle back. Nowitzki’s 3-pointer knotted it at 75 with just over five minutes left in the period before a late surge sent Houston into the final 12 minutes with a 91-85 cushion.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Three of Nowitzki’s five 30-plus efforts this season have come against the Rockets. … The Rockets were playing without G James Harden (thumb) for the second straight night. … Mavericks C DeJuan Blair scored 13 points in a reserve role as the Dallas bench outscored Houston's reserves 55-25.