By The Numbers: Dallas Falls 117-135 In A Lopsided Preseason…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Friday, October 9

The Mavericks opened the preseason slate at home against Houston and lost 117-135, with Cooper Flagg scoring 19 points on a team-worst -15. The numbers around it -- a bench that nearly matched the starters, a payroll sitting under the tax threshold, and last season's -5.2 net rating -- frame where Dallas stands before the October 21 opener at Houston.

A Lopsided Opener

Houston broke this one open early and never let go. The Rockets strung together bursts of 9-0, 10-0 and 10-0 across the first two quarters, building a 28-point cushion Dallas never threatened. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting and four made free throws, but he finished -15 in just 19 minutes. Alperen Sengun ran Houston's offense from the five spot, posting 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, a step below last season's 20.4-point, 8.9-rebound averages but plenty to control the game.

Bench Nearly Matched The Starters

Dallas starters scored 62 points; the bench answered with 55. Tobi Lawal was the most efficient Maverick on the floor, going 5-for-6 for 13 points and finishing +2, the only Dallas player on the plus side. Sergio de Larrea added 11 points and 6 assists in 24 minutes. Naji Marshall and Zaccharie Risacher each finished -13, and Max Christie hit 4 of 11 from three for 14 points in a losing effort.

Payroll And Net Rating

Dallas carries $197.9 million in payroll, over the salary cap but under the $200.4 million luxury threshold, with Kyrie Irving's $39.5 million deal the largest number on the books ahead of P.J. Washington's $19.8 million and Klay Thompson's $17.5 million. Last season's team finished at a -5.2 net rating, 110.3 on offense and 115.5 on defense, 22nd of 30 leaguewide. Five players are sidelined heading into the next test -- Lively, Sasser, Washington, Martin and Aldama -- each with an estimated return of October 11, two days before Dallas visits Houston again.

What was the final score of the Mavericks' preseason opener against the Rockets?

Dallas lost 117-135 at home to Houston on October 9, 2026, in the first game of the preseason slate.

How many Mavericks are sidelined heading into the next preseason game?

Five: Lively, Sasser, Washington, Martin and Aldama, each with an estimated return date of October 11.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.