DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks were merely looking for a good game on both ends of the court. What they got was the most lopsided Game 7 victory in NBA playoff history.

And take note, Phoenix: They did it despite Dirk Nowitzki still misfiring.

With Jason Terry leading the offense and Josh Howard setting the defensive tone against Tracy McGrady, Dallas took a big lead in the opening minutes and built on it the rest of the way for an impressive 116-76 victory over the Houston Rockets last night.

"This series stretched us. We were bending but we didn't break," coach Avery Johnson said. "Defensively, this was the performance I was looking for this whole series. It was right on time."

Terry, from Franklin High School, scored 21 of his 31 points in the first half, while Howard forced McGrady to miss six of his first seven shots. Although McGrady finished with 27 points, he shot 10 of 26 while trying to force the Rockets back into it.

"I just tried to contain him like I have the whole series," Howard said. "This time, it finally worked."

Frustrated, McGrady punched the air and came close to hitting an official. Teammate Mike James also let his emotions get the best of him and was tossed in the final minute of the third quarter.

"We cracked in every way," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "It was really not befitting how we played and conducted ourselves this year. ... The way it ended does not reflect well on myself or the team, but it does not affect my overall pride. It does show how very, very far we have to go."

Nowitzki, who has been sick with a cold, finished with a series-low 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Howard had 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Michael Finley scored 13.

Darrell Armstrong's three-pointer in the closing seconds provided Dallas with its largest postseason margin of victory ever and dealt the Rockets the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history.

Yao led Houston with 33 points. Other than him and McGrady, the Rockets got just 16 points from the rest of the team. The only bench points were from James (four) and Jon Barry (two).

"We came out too flat," McGrady said. "We couldn't defend anybody. They were driving right by us. Guys were knocking down shots. I don't think we were ready for that."

Dallas led by 15 on a three-pointer by Terry early in the second quarter, went up 24 before halftime and stretched it to 28 at the end of the third quarter. The only drama left was how many records would fall.

Dallas became just the third team in playoff history to win a seven-game series after losing the first two games at home. The reward is a trip to play the well-rested Suns and their MVP-to-be, Steve Nash, who spent six seasons with the Mavericks until signing with Phoenix as a free agent last summer.