The Houston Rockets needed a dominant fourth-quarter performance to secure a 111-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks in game two of their first-round playoff series.

Little separated the two Texas sides throughout the first three quarters, with the Rockets heading into the break two points ahead, while Monta Ellis and JJ Barea ensured that the Mavericks were just a point adrift by the end of the third spell.

Dallas made the stronger start to the fourth quarter, with Ellis and Amar'e Stoudemire edging the visitors in front, but Dwight Howard soon turned things around for Houston, putting the hosts eight points up with eight minutes to go.

Howard finished the game with 28 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter to put the win beyond doubt, while James Harden chipped in with a run of free throws, leaving Dallas to make just one basket inside the final two minutes.

Having won the first two games of the best-of-seven series, the Rockets travel to Dallas for game three on Friday.