Howard-less Mavs beat banged-up Rockets (AP)

The Dallas Mavericks didn't need Josh Howard as much as the Houston Rockets missed Yao Ming on Wednesday night. Jason Terry scored 31 points, and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Mavericks' 96-86 victory over the Rockets. Howard, the Mavs' second-leading scorer, was inactive because of a left ankle injury, while Yao, Houston's top scorer, missed the game because of a sore left... (link)