DALLAS -- O.J Mayo scored 10 of his 20 points during a third-quarter run and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 123-104 Monday night without Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki, who has been bothered by a troublesome right knee, missed his second straight preseason game. The 11-time All-Star has had that knee drained twice over the past month.
The Mavericks scored 20 straight points in the third quarter to turn a halftime deficit into a 77-62 lead.
Dallas rookie Jae Crowder, a second-rounder from Marquette, scored 18 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. Shawn Marion and Vince Carter each chipped in with 15 points.
Kevin Martin scored 23 points for the Rockets, who were without point guard Jeremy Lin. Coach Kevin McHale said this was a scheduled day off for Lin.
