JAMES HARDEN had 19 points and five assists in the first half and the Houston Rockets went on to a 109-82 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

    Harden and Patrick Beverley, who made four 3-pointers, were Houston’s only two regulars in the starting lineup one night after the Rockets (1-1) started all their top players in their preseason opener at Memphis.

    John Jenkins had 19 points for Dallas (0-2), while J.J. Barea had 14 points and Charlie Villanueva added 10 points and six rebounds.

    Corey Brewer had 16 points for the Rockets and K.J. McDaniels added 13.

    Mavericks rookie Maurice Ndour annoyed Harden by guarding him a bit too aggressively in the second quarter and paid for it when the superstar swished a 3-pointer and yelled “boom’’ at him.

    Dallas plays Oklahoma City on Tuesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Houston meets Orlando on Sunday in Hidalgo, Texas.

    (SD-Agencies)