Mavericks Open Preseason Slate At Home Against Rockets, Two…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Friday, October 9

Dallas opens its preseason slate tonight against Houston at American Airlines Center, with Dereck Lively II and Aldama each carrying an Oct. 9 return estimate after missing camp time. Ime Udoka brings a Rockets team that went 52-30 last season, led by Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, four days removed from Dallas guaranteeing Moussa Cisse's salary to settle its last open roster spot.

Mavericks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Tipoff And Two Names

Tonight's game is preseason, airing on NBA TV, and it is the first look at a Mavericks team still waiting on full health. Lively (foot, leg) and Aldama (undisclosed) are both pegged for today's return after sitting out camp, while Morez Johnson Jr. was cleared yesterday. Houston counters with Durant averaging 26.0 points last season, Sengun at 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds, and Amen Thompson at 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists, all under first-year Rockets coach Udoka.

The Money Math

Dallas's payroll sits at $197.9 million, above the salary cap but below the $200.4 million luxury-tax threshold. Irving's salary tops the roster at $39.5 million, with Washington ($19.8M), Thompson ($17.5M) and Gafford ($17.3M) behind him, Aldama's $17.0M rounding out the top five. Draft capital stays tangled through 2030, with first-round picks tied up in swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030 and the 2027 first protected and owed to Charlotte.

What Preseason Can Answer

Dusty May's best five-man group last season was Washington, Gafford, B. Williams, Christie and Flagg, a +2.2 net rating over 14 games and 73 minutes. Getting that look back, or finding a better one, is the point of these four preseason games before the real schedule opens Oct. 21 at Houston.

Is tonight's Mavericks-Rockets game preseason or does it count?

It's preseason, airing on NBA TV; the regular-season opener between these two teams is Oct. 21 at Houston.

Are Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama playing tonight?

Both carry an Oct. 9 return estimate — Lively for a foot and leg issue, Aldama for an undisclosed one — making tonight the target date for each to be back.

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.