The Rockets did not merely demolish the Mavericks 124-87 on Saturday night. They said they found themselves. They rediscovered their true nature and let it fly.

"That was very fun, getting out on the break, running," said Walt Williams, who started at center for the first time since high school and injected a much-needed 21 points, his season high. "The way we pushed the ball up enabled guys to get in the paint and find guys wide-open. We just played ball."