http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-mavericks-rockets&prov=ap&type=lgns HOUSTON (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki was looking for another dominant postseason performance to secure his spot among the NBA's best players. But Tracy McGrady, unheralded Ryan Bowen and the Houston Rockets are derailing his progress. His struggle highlights why the Dallas Mavericks are down 2-0 in their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series against the Rockets, with the next two games in Houston. ``I haven't really found my rhythm yet from the floor,'' Nowitzki said. ``It's a little disappointing.'' Game 3 is Thursday night. Nowitzki, the only player to rank among the NBA's top 10 scorers (26.1) and rebounders (9.7) in the regular season, is averaging just 23.5 points on 32.5 percent shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 turnovers against Houston. That's a particularly disturbing stat line for a guy who carried the Mavericks to another 50-win season and has always raised his game to another level during the postseason. A 7-footer with unlimited range, Nowitzki has been forced into shooting jumpers instead of going to the basket, has had trouble passing out of double teams, and has even been hesitant to battle for rebounds. He's boosted his scoring totals by making 21 of 25 free throws but has gone just 13-of-40 from the field with no 3-pointers. His troubles against the Rockets have come as a huge surprise, especially since his matchup against Houston's undersized and unathletic power forwards was supposed to be the one sure advantage the Mavericks owned in this series. ``It's certainly not the Dirk Nowitzki that we're accustomed to,'' Rockets guard Jon Barry said. ``We've been fortunate that's the case. Hopefully he'll have another one in Game 3.'' Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy's decision to insert the scrappy Bowen into the starting lineup has worked out better than anyone could have imagined. Playfully dubbed the ``German-ator'' by Barry, Bowen -- who made only six starts in 66 games this season -- has bumped and nudged Nowitzki into two of the worst playoff performances of his career. When Bowen goes out of the game, McGrady has been even more of a hindrance to Nowitzki. ``We've been trying to force him away from the basket, but he's missing some shots he normally makes,'' Bowen said. ``You watch the tape, and it's like he easily could have scored 40 or 50 against us.'' Nowitzki has done that to Houston before. On Dec. 2, he scored most of his 53 points -- a career high, franchise record and the most ever by a foreign player -- against now-injured Rockets forward Juwan Howard. But Van Gundy has successfully tinkered with the Rockets' defense since that embarrassing night, mostly out of necessity since Howard was placed on the injured list with a knee sprain last month. Nowitzki has compounded his problems by struggling on defense. McGrady's ferocious, one-handed dunk over Dallas center Shawn Bradley in the second quarter of Game 2 came after he blew by Nowitzki on the baseline. Barry hit three 3-pointers during a span of 1:23 later in the quarter because Nowitzki failed to guard him on the arc. A few minutes later, McGrady spun past him for an uncontested layup. ``This is a time when superstars go to another level,'' Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said of McGrady. ``Right now, he's a tough guard. He'd be a tough guard for anyone, not just us.'' Yes, the anticipated showdown of stars has been no contest: McGrady is the clear winner. He's averaging 31 points, eight assists and 6.5 rebounds -- all better than his regular-season numbers. McGrady even spoiled what should have been Nowitzki's shining moment in the waning seconds of Game 2. Nowitzki avoided the outstretched arms of McGrady with a fadeway jumper from the foul line with 10.4 seconds left, tying the game at 111 and salvaging another subpar performance by the Mavericks' star forward. It wasn't over yet. McGrady answered with a basket from just inside the 3-point arc for the win, and in an 8-second span, summed up the frustration of Nowitzki and the reeling Mavericks. ``I told you all I was going to put on a show,'' McGrady said Wednesday, winking at a crowd of reporters. ``Guess you thought I was (joking).''
