Houston split its two meetings with Dallas, winning 135-117 on Friday before falling 115-132 on Sunday after a tight first half turned into a Mavericks pullaway. Udoka's bench closed the game while Marcus Smart's efficient 20 points stood as the lone bright spot next to Tari Eason's minus-21.
2026-10-09
Houston beat the Mavericks 135-117 on the road two days earlier, with Fred VanVleet scoring 17 in his return and Alperen Sengun contributing across the stat sheet. That version of the Rockets controlled tempo from the opening tip and never trailed by more than single digits. Sunday's rematch looked nothing like it.
2026-10-11
The Mavericks led by as many as 16, the Rockets by as many as 7, and the score changed hands 12 times with 7 ties before Dallas pulled away. Houston answered an early 11-0 Dallas run and a follow-up 10-0 burst with an 8-0 run of its own to open the third quarter, cutting the gap to four. Dallas closed it with another 8-0 spurt.
Who closed
Udoka emptied his bench well before the final horn. Houston's closing five was Bruce Thornton, Julian Phillips, Oscar Tshiebwe, Quadir Copeland and Sean Pedulla, all reserves or two-way players. Tshiebwe scored 9 in that stretch and Thornton added 6, the only scoring Houston managed once the result was no longer in question.
Grades
Marcus Smart (20 points, 7-of-13 shooting, plus-4) and Amen Thompson (14 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, plus-4) were the two bright spots. Reed Sheppard scored 17 but needed 12 shots and committed 5 turnovers. Jabari Smith Jr. was efficient at 6-of-10 for 14 points and 9 rebounds. Tari Eason finished minus-21 in 22 minutes, the worst mark on either roster.
What it changes
Starters outscored the bench 70-38, a split Udoka will want reversed once rotations tighten. The preseason series with Dallas sits at 1-1 with one more meeting set for October 21, the regular-season opener. Houston gets five days off before its next game, a home date with Oklahoma City on October 15.
What was the final score of the Rockets-Mavericks game on October 11, 2026?
The Mavericks won 115-132, evening the preseason series after Houston's 135-117 win on October 9.
Who had the best and worst plus-minus for the Rockets in the loss to Dallas?
Marcus Smart and Amen Thompson tied for the best mark at plus-4, while Tari Eason finished minus-21 in 22 minutes.
