With 7:07 left in the first quarter, Mavericks guard Brandon Williams entered the game for the first time.

Just 20 seconds later, Williams collapsed the defense by driving toward the rim. With a host of Houston Rockets defenders focused on him, he kicked the ball out to a wide-open Max Christie, who knocked down a 3-pointer.

Williams checking in midway through the first quarter marked the first time Mavericks coach Jason Kidd deployed a traditional point guard. Cooper Flagg started the game at point guard, while Anthony Davis slid to power forward.

With D’Angelo Russell sidelined, Williams and Ryan Nembhard combined to play about 38 minutes to round out the rotation. With both point guards on the floor, the Mavericks’ offense ran smoother and shot 55 percent from the field.

Anthony Davis and Max Christie combined for 50 points in the 110-104 win against Houston at the American Airlines Center on Saturday.

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Dallas and gave the Mavericks a 2-1 edge in the season series against Houston. Dallas improved to 13-23 overall and 10-10 at home, while the Rockets fell to 21-11, with two of those losses coming against the Mavericks.