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Preseason Opener: Rockets Visit a Short-Handed Mavericks Team

Houston opens its preseason slate at Dallas, who lists six players day-to-day entering tonight.

By the Rockets Nightly Desk · Friday, October 9

Houston opens its preseason slate tonight at Dallas, a team down to six day-to-day players. The two sides meet again October 11 before the Rockets open the real season October 21.

Rockets Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Houston finished last season 52-30, with a net rating of 5.4 that ranked sixth in the league, an offense that ranked eighth and a defense that ranked fifth. Kevin Durant averaged 26.0 points and 4.8 assists in his first year with the team. Dallas finished 26-56, with a net rating of -5.2 and a pace of 102.6, the gap this preseason meeting opens against.

This summer

Houston's payroll is $205.5 million against a $200.4 million luxury tax line, led by Durant's $43.9 million and Alperen Sengun's $35.6 million. The roster stands at eighteen players after Rafael Castro left the team October 1, the second departure since Jeff Green and Aaron Holiday exited in September.

Tonight, October 9

Houston opens its preseason schedule at Dallas tonight on NBA TV, the first of two meetings before the Mavericks host again October 11. Dallas is shorthanded: Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Marcus Sasser, Caleb Martin and Santi Aldama are all day-to-day. Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points and 6.7 rebounds across 70 games last season, is Dallas's top returning scorer.

Rest of the preseason

After tonight, Houston hosts Dallas again October 11, then Oklahoma City on October 15, building toward the regular-season opener October 21 against the Mavericks at Toyota Center. None of these three games count, but they are Udoka's only look at this rotation before it matters.

What to watch

The Athletic's October 8 preview flagged Fred VanVleet's return and Reed Sheppard's role as the things worth watching this preseason. Tonight is the first chance to see either answered, with Dallas missing six rotation pieces and little resistance to read results into.

Next Houston and Dallas play again October 11, then Houston hosts Oklahoma City October 15 before the October 21 regular-season opener against the Mavericks.
When do the Rockets open their regular season?

Houston's regular-season opener is October 21, 2026, against the Mavericks.

Which Mavericks are injured for tonight's game?

Dallas lists six players day-to-day: Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Marcus Sasser, Caleb Martin and Santi Aldama.

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.

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