Dirk Nowitzki scored 12 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead Dallas to an 88-72 rout of the visiting?Houston Rockets.

Jerry Stackhouse tallied 16 points and Jason Terry scored 12 for the Mavericks.

Yao Ming scored 13 points and had 13 rebounds for Houston, which lost its sixth straight game. Luther Head had a team-high 16 points and Rafer Alston contributed 13 points for the Rockets in the loss.