NBA-Highlights of Thursday's NBA games

Nov 6 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Thursday's National Basketball Association games: - - - Rockets 98, Spurs 81 Dwight Howard paired 32 points with 16 rebounds and delivered a dominating interior performance against the short-handed San Antonio Spurs in a comfortable Houston Rockets win. With the Spurs (2-2) resting center-forward Tim Duncan and lacking injured center Tiago Splitter, Howard ruled the paint and overwhelmed forwards Aron Baynes and Jeff Ayres. Howard made 12-of-18 shots from the floor, utilising a combination of dunks and hook shots to keep the Rockets (6-0) unbeaten. Down five regulars, San Antonio shot its way into an early hole by missing its first 11 attempts from the field. Cory Joseph finished with a team-high 18 points for the Spurs. Houston guard James Harden chipped in with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. - - - Trail Blazers 108, Mavericks 87 Forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers rolled to victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Damian Lillard contributed 18 points, six assists and five rebounds for Portland (3-2), who trailed 50-46 at halftime but out-scored the Mavericks (3-2) 35-18 in the third quarter. Aldridge sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Blazers breezed to their most one-sided win of the fledgling season. Forward Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 17 points but managed only two points in the second half. The Mavericks entered the game leading the NBA in scoring (111.8) and field-goal percentage (.524). They scored nearly 25 points under their average and shot a season-low .367. (Editing by John O'Brien)