Dallas Arrives Shorthanded: What Friday's Preseason Opener…

By the Rockets Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 8

Houston's preseason opener is one day away, and Dallas confirmed three players as questionable ahead of Friday's tipoff. The Dream Shake previewed the matchup Thursday, while last season's numbers show a wide gap: Houston finished plus-5.4, Dallas minus-5.2.

Rockets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Houston went 52-30 and finished plus-5.4, sixth-best leaguewide, built on an eighth-ranked offense and a fifth-ranked defense. Dallas finished 26-56 at minus-5.2, with a faster 102.6 pace against Houston's 97.0. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks at 21.0 points and 6.7 rebounds across 70 games.

This week

Houston plays two preseason games against the same opponent: Friday at Dallas, then Sunday at home. Neither team has played yet — both sit 0-0 with zero games in the past seven days. Both list their next game as two days away, and neither is on a back-to-back.

Today

The Dream Shake's Armin Khansari previewed the Mavericks matchup Thursday, a day after the outlet's Lachard Binkley profiled Amen Thompson and The Athletic detailed Houston's full broadcast schedule for the season. None of Thursday's coverage reported new injury or roster news for Houston.

Friday

Dallas lists three players questionable: Morez Johnson Jr., Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama. Flagg, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Max Christie carry no such tag and should be available. NBA TV carries Friday's game from Dallas; Houston's rotation enters clean, with nobody on its injury list.

Next The two teams play again Sunday, Oct. 11, this time at Toyota Center, before Houston closes preseason Oct. 15 against Oklahoma City. The regular-season opener is Oct. 21, also against Dallas.

When do the Rockets play the Mavericks in the preseason?

Houston plays Dallas twice this preseason: Friday, Oct. 9 at Dallas and Sunday, Oct. 11 at Toyota Center.

Which Mavericks are questionable for Friday's game?

Dallas lists Morez Johnson Jr., Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama as questionable; none of Houston's players carry an injury tag.

By the Rockets 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.