So that both big men played substantial roles as the Mavericks reversed strategy in a 95-91 triumph over the Houston Rockets on Thursday was more than a bit surprising. Tall ball trumped small ball at a sold-out American Airlines Center ? that is until one of the smallest Mavericks decided the outcome.

Because it was the little guard Steve Nash that came up biggest in the end. Nash recorded 33 points and eight assists, and he scored 15 in the fourth quarter when the score was see-sawing back and forth.

"He had a superb ballgame to carry us," Mavericks coach Don Nelson gushed afterward.