Bucks win 101-100 on Lillard's late basket to snap Rockets' 5-game win streak

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard hit a driving layup with 3.9 seconds left to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 101-100 victory over Houston that snapped the Rockets’ five-game winning streak Monday night.

Lillard scored 18 points after missing the previous three games while in the concussion protocol.

The Rockets rallied from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter and stayed ahead until Lillard’s decisive basket. Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by Houston's Alperen Sengun with 20 seconds left.

Houston called timeout after Lillard's layup. After the Bucks fouled with 2 seconds left, Houston’s Fred VanVleet tried inbounding the ball to Sengun, who couldn’t catch it cleanly under the basket. VanVleet unsuccessfully tried passing to Jabari Smith Jr. as the horn sounded.

Brook Lopez had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 14 rebounds.

VanVleet scored 26 points, Jalen Green 21 and Sengun 18 for Houston.

Rockets: One night after a 143-107 victory at Chicago in which they were one point shy of the NBA’s highest scoring total this season, the Rockets were held to their fewest points of the season.

Bucks: Since a 2-8 start, Milwaukee has won three of four. Lopez briefly went in the locker room after taking a hard fall early in the second quarter, but he returned later that period and delivered one of his best games of the season.

The Bucks trailed 100-96 when A.J. Green buried a 3-pointer to cut the margin to one with 1:17 left.

Houston shot just 9 of 32 on 3-pointers and had its lowest field-goal percentage (.400) of the season.

Both teams play Wednesday, with the Rockets hosting Indiana and the Bucks hosting Chicago.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun shoots past Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green as he shoots during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez knocks the ball from Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Gary Trent Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun and Milwaukee Bucks' Andre Jackson Jr. go after the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun tries to get p-ast Milwaukee Bucks' Andre Jackson Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo goes after a loose ball with Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 101-100. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard gets past Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleetduring the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Gary Trent Jr. shoots past Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Houston Rockets' Tari Eason during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince is fouled by Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to get past Houston Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet knocks the ball from Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard drives past Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Derek Barnett forced the first fumble and returned the second for a touchdown on the definitive defensive play of the game for the Houston Texans.

Joe Mixon did his thing, and C.J. Stroud didn’t have to do much to extend the misery of the Dallas Cowboys.

Mixon ran for three touchdowns to extend his TD streak to six games since coming back from an ankle injury, Barnett returned a fumble 28 yards for a score, and the Texans beat the Cowboys 34-10 on Monday night.

The Texans (7-4) stopped just the second two-game losing streak in quarterback C.J. Stroud's two seasons while maintaining a two-game lead in the AFC South.

In a season filled with things gone wrong for the Cowboys (3-7), debris fell from their stadium's retractable roof as it was opening a few hours before the game.

There was no delay and no injuries were reported, just another mishap to foreshadow a fifth consecutive defeat for a team that lost five games total in each of the past three playoff seasons.

Cooper Rush threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin but lost his second start since Dak Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury.

The Dallas losing streak is its longest since a seven-game skid in 2015, and the Cowboys dropped to 0-5 at home. Dallas is the first team in NFL history to trail by at least 20 points in six consecutive home games, including last season's wild-card playoff loss to Green Bay, according to Sportradar.

“Well, they better be frustrated,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I mean, we’re all frustrated. I think there’d be something wrong if they weren’t frustrated. So just very honest with everything and stay in tune with what’s right in front of us. And that’s the only way I’ve ever done it.”

The Cowboys were down 10 early in the fourth quarter when Barnett knocked the ball out of Rush's hand as he was throwing. Dallas rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton caught it and was trying to run when Jalen Pitre knocked the ball loose again.

Barnett scooped it and scored, although he almost stepped out of bounds running free toward a pylon.

“The play he made really changed for game for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “It flipped the momentum. It got everybody juiced up on the sideline. It was just a huge play.”

Earlier, the Cowboys appeared to have pulled within a touchdown on a 64-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey, but Barnett was penalized for slapping Terence Steele on the rush.

Dallas erased the points by taking the penalty, but Rush's fourth-down pass from the Houston 8-yard line was incomplete on the only good scoring chance of the second half for the the Cowboys.

“The defense played with elite energy,” Ryans said. “One big play that we gave up. Like to have that one back, but overall I think our guys played really well.”

Texans receiver Nico Collins returned after missing five games with a hamstring injury and took a screen pass 77 yards to the end zone the first time he touched the ball on the first play of the game, only to have it called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield.

That possession ended with a touchdown anyway on Mixon's 45-yard sprint up the middle, and he ran wide for a 1-yard score and 14-0 lead. Mixon had 109 yards rushing and set up a field goal with a 37-yard catch-and-run on a screen.

“I really love that first play because it showed what we could do in this game,” Ryans said. “Even though it got called back, I just told all our guys, ‘We can go score on these guys again. Just get it in your mind we’re going to score again.’”

Already without Prescott, the Cowboys lost tight end Jake Ferguson to a concussion and perennial All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and left guard Tyler Smith to ankle injuries. Rush was sacked five times, three on the same possession when Martin and Smith were injured.

Stroud, who has been in a mini-slump, threw for 257 yards while avoiding any mistakes after an early interception on fourth down. It was the third time in five games without a touchdown pass, and he has two TDs and three picks in that stretch.

Rush was 32 of 55 for 354 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Turpin had three catches for 86 yards.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr., who entered the week tied for fifth in the NFL with 7 1/2 sacks, was inactive because of an ankle injury. ... Cowboys DB Markquese Bell didn't return after injuring a shoulder covering a kickoff in the second quarter.

Texans: Host Tennessee on Sunday.

Cowboys: At Washington on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, right, gets help from offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, left, to escape a tackle attempt by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Houston Texans defensive end Derek Barnett (95) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a fumble recovery during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) tries to avoid being stopped by Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry (96) and defensive end Derek Barnett (95) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair reacts after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush fumbles the snap against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A employee labors on the catwalk of AT&T Stadium prior to an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

The roof is seen open at AT&T Stadium prior to an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Houston Texans defensive end Dylan Horton, left, forces Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, center, to fumble the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Houston Texans defensive end Derek Barnett runs with the ball while scoring on a fumble recovery during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)