Dallas ? For two quarters, Yao Ming was nearly unstoppable. Then the Dallas Mavericks showed why they’ve been unbeatable.

The Mavericks made a halftime adjustment to collapse their zone defense around Yao, then saw Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki lead them to a 103-90 victory against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, improving Dallas to 12-0.

Finley had a season-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers, and Nowitzki had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Mavs set a franchise record for consecutive wins at any point in a season, and tied for the fourth-best start in league history.

Their next goal is matching Boston’s 14-0 start in 1957-58, then the record of 15-0 set by Washington in 1948-49 and matched by Houston in 1993-94. Dallas next plays Saturday night at home against Seattle.

“We feel confident, but it’s going to end sooner or later,” said Steve Nash, who had 15 points and eight assists. “We’re really not concerned about the streak. We just want to get better.”

Yao certainly showed a spurt in his development.

The 7-foot-6 center from China who was the first pick in the NBA draft had his best night as a pro, logging highs with 30 points, 16 rebounds and 33 minutes. His previous bests were 20 points, seven rebounds and 24 minutes.

“I definitely had more confidence tonight,” said Yao, who was 10-of-12 from the field, making him 31 of his last 35, and 10-of-12 on free throws. “From a technical standpoint, I felt very good.”

Houston center Yao Ming and Dallas forward Eduardo Najera (14) reach for a rebound during Tuesday's game in Dallas. The Mavericks beat the Rockets, 103-90.

Yao entered late in the first quarter with Houston trailing by 10 and scored the game’s next seven points. He had 13 points in his first seven minutes, then made consecutive baskets late in the second quarter to put Houston ahead 44-42.

He had 21 points and seven rebounds in 15 first-half minutes. Then Dallas mixed things up, fatigue set in and Yao wore out. He had only one point in nine fourth-quarter minutes and didn’t take a shot in the period.

“I played a lot of minutes today. Of course, I want to play more. But I have to build up my endurance,” Yao said. “Their defense was very tight on me and I did not have very many opportunities.”

Shawn Bradley, the only player in the NBA who can see Yao eye-to-eye, played only 20 minutes because of foul trouble. So Dallas threw a variety of players, some a foot shorter than Yao, into the middle and caused enough to confusion to make things difficult on him.

“We wanted to get him out of his comfort zone and make him work for his shots,” Finley said.

Mavericks coach Don Nelson enjoyed a personal milestone with the victory as the dozen straight matched the longest winning streak in 25-year career. Nelson, the third-winningest coach in NBA history, had a similar stretch with the 1981-82 Milwaukee Bucks.

“How many perfect people do you know? Well, here is one, baby,” Nelson said, then punching the air for emphasis.

Sonics 89, Blazers 85

Seattle ” Bonzi Wells scored 16 points, and Portland took the lead for good with a 14-1 run to close the third quarter on their way to an 89-85 victory against Seattle.

Rasheed Wallace added 13 points for the Blazers, who have won three straight after a 3-6 start.

Gary Payton had 22 points and 14 assists for the Sonics, who fell a half-game behind Sacramento for first place in the Pacific Division.

Payton brought Seattle within two points, at 87-85, by hitting a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left, but the Sonics couldn’t get any closer.

The Sonics went ahead 61-51 with 5:41 left in the third, but the only point Seattle got the rest of the period was a free throw from Rashard Lewis.

They played well early, scoring 12 fast-break points in the first quarter. It was the shooting of Predrag Drobnjak that gave Seattle an early lead ” he scored a season-high 18 points.

Portland guard Damon Stoudamire was benched for the second time in three games. Stoudamire, who had words with coach Maurice Cheeks in a loss to Houston on Nov. 12, sat out the Blazers’ home win against the Clippers three nights later. He returned in Wednesday night’s home game against Orlando.