Eason's career-high 30 helps Houston Rockets extend win streak to 5 games with rout of Dallas

HOUSTON (AP) — Tari Eason scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Houston Rockets to an easy 133-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks Friday night.

Jalen Green added 23 points with nine rebounds, despite sitting the entire fourth quarter to help the Rockets to their fifth straight win, tying their longest such streak of the season.

Houston led by double digits most of the night and was up by 16 in the third quarter before scoring the next seven points, with a 3 from Eason, to make it 80-57 midway through the quarter.

The Rockets were up by 21 later in the third before using a 10-0 run to push the lead to 96-65 near the end of the period, and most of their starters didn't play in the fourth.

Brandon Williams scored 25 points off the bench for the Mavericks as they lost for the seventh time in eight games. Klay Thompson was 2 of 16 for five points with nine rebounds.

Mavericks: Dallas continues to struggle with most of its top players out with injuries and lost another one Friday with coach Jason Kidd saying that Dante Exum sustained a broken left hand that will likely end his season.

Rockets: Houston has taken advantage of a schedule with six straight home games, going 4-0 so far on the homestand as it tries to climb the Western Conference standings.

Houston was in control of the game from the start but put it out of reach with its 37-point third quarter.

The Rockets had 29 second-chance points to just two by Dallas on a night Houston had a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Houston hosts Chicago on Saturday night and Dallas hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.

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Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) controls the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends against Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis continues his recovery from double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with the Vatican expected to issue the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer as a written text for the fifth straight week.

The pope typically delivers the Angelus from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to the gathered faithful, who have grown more numerous due to the Jubilee year that Francis inaugurated in December.

Along with a stop at St. Peter’s to seek indulgences by walking through the basilica’s Holy Door, pilgrims are now also adding a stop at Gemelli, a 15-minute train ride from the Vatican.

Doctors this week said the 88-year-old pontiff was no longer in critical, life-threatening condition, but have continued to emphasize that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man.

Still, they are issuing fewer medical bulletins as the pontiff has been on an upward trajectory. An X-ray this week confirmed that the infection was clearing.

Francis has not been seen publicly since he was admitted to the hospital Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis that made it difficult for him to speak. Doctors soon added a diagnosis of double pneumonia and a polymicrobial (bacterial, viral and fungal) infection.

The first three weeks of his hospitalization were marked by a rollercoaster of setbacks, including respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit.

Doctors in the most recent medical update on Saturday said they were working to reduce the pope’s nighttime reliance on the non-invasive ventilation mask, which will allow his lungs to work more.

Doctors underlined that while the pope’s condition is stable, he still requires hospitalization for both physical and respiratory therapy, which are "showing further gradual improvements,” the Vatican said Saturday in the first medical update in three days.

The next update won’t be issued until the middle of next week, the Vatican said.

People pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Saturday, March 15, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)