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Mavericks Get Washington, Martin Back for Rockets Rematch

Dallas looks to answer a 117-135 loss with two clearances and a bigger role for Moussa Cisse.

117-135Last MeetingRockets won Oct. 9, rematch looms
ClearedWashington, MartinBoth cleared in last 36 hours
26.0Cisse's MinutesUp from season average, last 5 games
5.4Rockets Net RatingLast season mark under Ime Udoka
By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 11

Dallas and Houston meet again on October 11 after the Rockets routed the Mavericks 117-135 in their first meeting two days earlier. P.J. Washington and Caleb Martin were both cleared in the last 36 hours, even as Lively, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and Morez Johnson Jr. stay day-to-day.

Mavericks Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Two Bodies Back

P.J. Washington and Caleb Martin both shed their day-to-day tags in the last 36 hours, a real swing for a Dallas front line that got outscored badly in the first meeting. Washington's left ankle and Martin's illness had both been unresolved since October 9, and now Dusty May gets both bodies back before the rematch with Houston. The Rockets carry real weight into it: a 52-30 record and a 5.4 net rating last season, built on Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant.

Cisse's Workload Jumps

Moussa Cisse is logging 26.0 minutes a night over his last five games, nearly double his season norm, while Lively, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and Morez Johnson Jr. all stay day-to-day. That workload matters because Lively's right foot and leg issue has no update beyond an estimated October 14 return. Until he's back, Cisse's bigger role is Dallas's clearest answer at center.

Houston's Blueprint

Houston enters the rematch carrying last season's 52-30 record, a 5.4 net rating and the NBA's slowest pace at 97.0, built around Sengun, Thompson and Durant alongside Jabari Smith Jr. The Rockets have their own thin night, with Steven Adams, Sengun, Fred VanVleet and Durant all listed day-to-day. The open question: does a healthier front line and Cisse's bigger role change anything from the October 9 result.

Is P.J. Washington playing against the Rockets?

Yes, Washington was cleared in the last 36 hours after carrying a day-to-day ankle tag since October 9, putting him available for the rematch.

Did the Mavericks already play the Rockets this season?

Yes, Dallas lost 117-135 to Houston in their first meeting on October 9, and the two teams play again on 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.

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