HOUSTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 123-104 in a NBA preseason game Monday, thanks to super performance of O.J. Mayo and a trio of strong-playing rookies.
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, an 11-time All-Star, missed Monday night's preseason game against the Rockets due to knee injury.
The Mavericks, however, had plenty of fast-paced firepower to make up for Nowitzki's absence.
Mayo poured in 20 points in 23 minutes of playing time to stake the Mavericks to a third quarter lead as they pulled away for the team's victory over the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Dallas rookie Jae Crowder scored 18 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. Shawn Marion and Vince Carter each added 15 points.
Kevin Martin scored a game-high 23 points for the Rockets, and Patrick Patterson donated 13 points and seven rebounds.
Jeremy Lin, who was signed by Houston in the offseason after the New York Knicks elected against matching the Rockets' restricted free-agent offer sheet, did not see the court after playing in the first three preseason games.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale said this was a scheduled day off for Lin.
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