Terry scored 31 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Mavs’ 96-86 victory over the Rockets.
Howard, the Mavs’ second-leading scorer, was inactive because of a left ankle injury. Yao, Houston’s top scorer, missed the game because of a sore left foot.
Terry immediately made up for Howard’s absence, hitting his first seven shots and scoring 18 points in the first half. He started his big night by sinking his first shot 9 seconds after coming off the bench in the first quarter.
“When the coach calls the first play for you and the shot goes in,” Terry said, “you’re like, ‘Man, it must be my night.’ And you try another one.”
Jason Kidd had eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Mavs, who have won three in a row and 11 of the last 14 games against Houston.
Tracy McGrady had 16 points and Ron Artest 14 for the Rockets, who shot 37 percent (29-of-78) from the field - 6-for-25 from 3-point range. McGrady and Artest, both nursing injuries, each shot 5-for-14 from the field.
“Throughout the game, we had some easy shots,” said McGrady, hobbled by a sore left knee. “Our offense was there, but we had some shots and we didn’t make them.”
Without Yao to anchor each possession, the Rockets looked disjointed all night and shot 35 percent through the first three quarters.
“When you don’t have Yao, you’ve got to move the ball and you have to create situations,” Houston coach Rick Adelman said. “We don’t have a lot of guys who can break you down off the dribble.”
Houston was lucky to only trail by 11 points after the third quarter, and backup point guard Aaron Brooks hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth to help the Rockets pull within three.
But Terry hit a short jumper, Kidd swished a 3 and Terry converted a three-point play after McGrady’s miss to restore Dallas’ double-digit cushion.
The Mavs didn’t find out until just before tip-off that Howard was out. Kidd said that didn’t change their game plan much.
“We just kept going,” Kidd said. “Whoever takes the floor has to step up and Jet (Terry) was big. The guys coming off the bench were huge for us.”
Dallas started the final quarter 5-for-18 from the field, but Terry hit a 3-pointer with 1:58 remaining to put the Mavs up 88-79. Rafer Alston hit two free throws before McGrady hit a 3-pointer with 1:15 left to cut it to 88-84.
Terry answered with a drive down the lane and Nowitzki tacked on two free throws to clinch the Mavs’ fourth straight win at Toyota Center. Terry was 13-for-21 from the field, including two 3-pointers.
