Mavericks and Rockets Face Off in Texas NBA Season Opener

The Dallas Mavericks hit the road on Wednesday night to take on the Houston Rockets in their 2026-27 NBA season opener at the Toyota Center. The in-state rivalry matchup, scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET, marks the official regular-season debut for new Mavericks head coach Dusty May.

Dallas enters the new campaign aiming for a rebound after finishing 12th in the Western Conference with a 26-56 record last season. The Mavericks lean on a core led by rising star Cooper Flagg, who is coming off a standout rookie campaign, and veteran star Kyrie Irving. Meanwhile, the Rockets are looking to establish themselves near the top of the West after posting a 52-30 record last year and securing the fifth seed. Houston's core features veteran forward Kevin Durant and standout center Alperen Sengun.

Both teams enter the opening night contest with notable injury updates regarding key players who missed significant time last season. For Dallas, Kyrie Irving is off the injury report and set to play after missing all of the 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the 2024-25 regular season. However, the Mavericks will be shorthanded in the frontcourt, ruling out Dereck Lively II due to ongoing recovery from right foot surgery, Santi Aldama due to right knee surgery, Caleb Martin with a right thumb sprain, and Tarik Biberovic with right heel bursitis.

The Rockets also welcome back a major piece from a season-ending injury as guard Fred VanVleet returns to the floor after sitting out last season with a torn ACL. VanVleet is off the injury report and ready to play against Dallas. Houston has listed center Steven Adams as questionable due to right calf tightness, which could mean an expanded role off the bench for Clint Capela behind Sengun. Forward Julian Phillips is also listed as questionable for the Rockets due to an illness.

The division rivals are already familiar with each other's personnel after playing a pair of exhibition games in Macao prior to the start of the regular season. Dallas took the first matchup 135-117 behind a triple-double from Sengun, while the Mavericks captured the second game 132-115 while the Rockets rested Durant. Historically, the Rockets hold a 107-98 advantage against the Mavericks in all-time regular-season play, winning five of their last eight meetings.

As the two teams prepare for the regular-season clash, analysts note contrasting styles that could dictate the flow of the game. Houston ranked fifth in defensive rating last season and plays at a deliberate pace, while Dallas aims to integrate Irving and Flagg fully into its offensive schemes while managing frontcourt injuries. Fans can catch the action broadcast on regional networks and local radio feeds as the new NBA campaign gets underway.