OJ Mayo Out-Duels James Harden, Leads Mavericks Past Rockets

OJ Mayo and James Harden maintain a friendly rivalry that dates back to high school.  On Saturday night, they had their most exciting duel to date.  As Mayo’s Mavericks edged Harden’s Rockets in a narrow 116-109 victory, the two sixth-men-turned-starters combined for 79 points — 52 of which came in the first 24 minutes, and 19 of which came in the last 12 minutes.  Unfortunately for Harden and his Rockets, the bulk of those fourth-quarter points belonged to the man who shares his nickname with a tasty citrus beverage. As the game got underway, both players got off to strong starts… but Mayo exploded off the blocks like an Olympic sprinter.  The NBA’s seventh-leading scorer dropped 16 in the first quarter alone, out-scoring his counterpart by five as he rained three-pointers and navigated his way to the rack.  Mayo was able to establish a tangible rhythm by getting out in transition, where he walked into his first two jumpers, each of them from straightaway.  Following a driving layu...