HOUSTON – It's unclear what the Mavericks are happier to see finished, the preseason or replacement refs.

As best they could with a starter still missing, another returning for only one half and two players ejected (sort of), the Mavericks flashed their regular-season look Friday night in the exhibition finale.

Based on the evidence, fans should not expect any instant gratification with this team. But the Mavericks did finish the preseason with a 98-94 victory over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

Shawn Marion played the first half, and the Mavericks rode Dirk Nowitzki like he was Secretariat for 3½ quarters. The rotation seemed to be handled like it probably will be for Tuesday's regular-season opener against Washington, save for the absence of Erick Dampier, who missed the game for personal reasons.

Though nothing's set in stone regarding the rotation, it seems likely Quinton Ross will start until Josh Howard returns, and Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, James Singleton and Kris Humphries will be the primary producers off the bench.

"Obviously, you saw a good chunk of it tonight," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of the rotation. "But some of it's going to depend. We have a lot of different ways we can go."

The Mavericks had to go several ways in the fourth quarter against Houston, when first Drew Gooden, then Nowitzki, were thrown out of the game. Nowitzki's heave-ho was legitimate. He'd had enough by late in the fourth quarter after scoring 32 points in 32 minutes.

Gooden was ejected with 8:19 to play. Then, with just over six minutes to play, he was back in the game. The replacement refs, who were working their last game because the regular referees signed a two-year agreement Friday, overturned their own ruling.

"It was a do-over," Carlisle deadpanned.

Said Gooden: "It was a physical game, and in the fourth quarter, I just didn't want to take it anymore. I'm happy the [regular] refs reached an agreement."

Marion satisfied: Marion's return after missing three preseason games could not have gone better. He finished with 14 points and five rebounds in 21 first-half minutes.

He sat out the second half because he didn't want to overwork the calf that had kept him out.

"It was a little tight, but everything went good," Marion said. "We're all glad the preseason is over."

Howard probably out: It would seem obvious after Howard sat out the entire preseason following ankle surgery in May, but Carlisle all but ruled Howard out for the regular-season opener Tuesday.

"It may be a while before Josh plays," Carlisle said.

TV coverage lauded: Fox Sports Southwest's coverage of the Mavericks' game on Martin Luther King Day has received a Lone Star Emmy for Live Sports Event.

The telecast, produced by Tom Stoner and directed by Clay Armstrong, featured in-game vignettes of several Mavericks and coaches about how Dr. King impacted their lives and society.

It's the seventh consecutive year Fox has won an Emmy in the Live Sports category.