The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 23 at the Moody Center in Austin for a “Texas Death Match.” Kickoff is set for 8:30 PM CST, with Space City Home Network broadcasting and KBME/ KLTN on radio. The probable lineups feature the Rockets’ veteran trio of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., plus Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün, while the Spurs counter with Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and phenom Victor Wembanyama. Fans can follow live on TDS or the SB Nation app.
The Mavericks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday for their first back‑to‑back game, facing a Pacers squad energized by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles. Indiana, 1‑0 after a 123‑120 win over New Orleans, leans on Haliburton’s 23‑point, 12‑assist effort, Pascal Siakam’s 30‑point night, and new acquisition Kelly Oubre Jr. Dallas, 0‑1 after a 128‑110 loss to Houston, looks to cut the 21 turnovers that fuelled the Rockets’ win. Coach Dusty May stresses faster play and ball‑sharing, while Max Christie calls Haliburton “the engine” for Indiana. Injuries leave several Mavericks doubtful, including Jett Howard.
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) travel to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 6 p.m. CST for their second road game, facing a 1‑0 Indiana Pacers squad that just beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123‑120. The Pacers debut Tyrese Haliburton, returning from an Achilles tear that sidelined him for the 2025‑26 season, while Indiana also misses TJ McConnell (hamstring) and lists Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Dallas still lacks Dereck Lively, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic (heel bursitis), Caleb Martin (thumb sprain) and has Jett Howard doubtful (calf). The Mavericks must improve transition defense and rebounding to bounce back from a loss to the Rockets.
The Mavericks enter Friday’s game at Indiana with a laundry list of absentees: Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberović, Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin are all ruled out, while rookie Jett Howard is doubtful with right‑calf tightness. All four missed the 128‑110 season‑opening loss to Houston, and Howard sat out that game as well. Kyrie Irving returns after a 597‑day hiatus, but no injury news for him. The Pacers list Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Tip‑off is 6 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Kyrie Irving returns to the court for the Dallas Mavericks’ season opener, checking out after 3:51 minutes in a 128-110 loss to the Houston Rockets. He logged 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 23:45, marking his first regular‑season appearance since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. Irving explains his limited minutes are a blend of a cautious ramp‑up plan and the Mavericks’ revamped medical staff, which now includes Nico Berg as executive director of health and performance and Ally Wade as director of mind health. He emphasizes needing to be more aggressive early, adjusting to shorter stints, and staying patient while the new health team fine‑tunes his load.
Max Christie says the Mavericks must bring urgency after a 128-110 season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets, where Dallas trailed 70-38 at halftime and fell behind by 37 points in the third quarter. Despite winning the final two quarters, the team shot 2‑of‑8 overall and struggled defensively in transition. Christie highlights the need to improve fast‑break defense and create better shot looks, especially against the fast‑paced Indiana Pacers on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. He also notes the learning curve with Kyrie Irving’s return and the integration of new players like Cooper Flagg.
After a 128-110 loss that saw Dallas trail by 37 points before a late rally, the Mavericks (0-1) face a daunting road test against the Pacers (1-0) in Indianapolis. Indiana opens the season with a win over New Orleans, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles and the addition of center Ivana Zubac. The Pacers are 7.5-point favorites, with betting lines favoring Zubac to exceed 27.5 points and Obi Toppin under 12.5. Dallas must overcome a hostile home crowd and a strong rebounding matchup to pull off a upset.
The Dallas Mavericks' defense struggled heavily against the Houston Rockets in its first game, but Dereck Lively II offers a perfect solution once he returns to the court.
The Dallas Mavericks' transition defense was a major problem during the team's opening-night loss to the Houston Rockets, and Dallas has to fix this issue in order to start stringing together some wins and better control the game.
The NBA injury report for Friday, October 23, lists several notable players as questionable or out, including San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey and Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard. The report was current as of 10:45 a.m. ET and covers 11 matchups. Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks Chicago has several […]
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The Houston Rockets will face an early test as they take on the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center on Friday. The Rockets handily won their first game against the Dallas Mavericks, 128-110, on Wednesday. Houston looked great versus the Mavericks, showcasing its starting unit of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., […]
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The Dallas Mavericks unravel in a disastrous second quarter of their season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets, dropping 12 points while conceding 38. Coach Dusty May blames rushed shooting and poor ball movement, noting the team forgot its new “passing‑first” identity. Key missteps include P.J. Washington’s premature three‑point attempts, an offensive foul on Washington, and early‑clock three attempts from Naji Marshall, all despite having Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg and potential Hall‑of‑Famer talent on the floor. Irving criticizes the effort and defense, calling the quarter “horrendous,” while May seeks to instill a team‑oriented culture. The article argues that bench players who understand ball sharing may be the solution.
While Sergio De Larrea had an excellent preseason, Marcus Sasser proved why he should be the Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard in their regular-season debut against the Houston Rockets due to his shooting and scoring off the dribble.
The Spurs head into their second regular‑season game on Oct. 23, 2026, looking to rebound from an opening‑night loss to the Thunder. Houston, 1‑0, leans on veteran Kevin Durant, point‑guard Fred VanVleet’s return (11 assists, 0 turnovers vs. the Mavericks), and rising stars Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson. San Antonio (0‑1) must shake off Victor Wembanyama’s off night (1‑13 shooting) and their trio’s 5‑of‑14 three‑point performance. Key injuries: Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox (wrist) and Keldon Johnson (laceration) are game‑time decisions; Tobias Harris is out. Line: Spurs –6.5. Watch how Wembanyama and the Spurs’ shooting improve against a Rockets squad eager to prove VanVleet’s impact.
The Dream Shake previews the Houston Rockets‑San Antonio Spurs matchup, arguing the Spurs can’t hide any longer. With Victor Wands Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle leading the charge, the Spurs are now a +300 (25%) favorite for the NBA title, second only to OKC. The preview notes key injuries—Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard (Rockets) and De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson (Spurs) listed as game‑time decisions, Tobias Harris out—and the betting line at SA -5.5. The game streams on Amazon Prime Video at 8:30 pm CT.
The Mavericks travel to Indianapolis on Friday night for their first chance at a season win, facing a Pacers squad that opened with a victory over New Orleans. New head coach Dusty May’s experimental rotations—10 players in the first quarter against the Rockets—raise questions about early line‑up stability. Dallas must tighten defense, cutting fast‑break points after allowing 32 off 21 turnovers versus Houston, while improving a cold three‑point start (11‑of‑37) and free‑throw shooting (17‑of‑26). Also highlighted is Tyrese Haliburton’s first non‑exhibition game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 2025. The game tips off 6 p.m. CDT on KFAA‑TV, Mavs TV, and NBA League Pass.
The Houston Rockets open the 2026-27 season with a dominant 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Toyota Center. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith each drop 30 points, while Alperen Sengün adds 23 and 10 rebounds. Fred VanVleet returns to the lineup, posting 11 assists and no turnovers, sparking praise from teammates and coach Ime Udoka, who highlights the team's 29 fast‑break points and faster pace. Steven Adams is a game‑time decision due to a sore calf, and rookie Tari Eason is ejected early after a flagrant‑two foul. The Rockets lead the season 1‑0, showcasing a potent offense and revamped double‑big strategy.
Rockets The Rockets want to spend less time working against the shot clock and more time attacking before the defense gets organized. Their opener offered a good example of why. Houston scored 29 fast-break points in Wednesday’s 128-110 win over the Mavericks, a total it reached only twice last season, according to William Guillory of […]
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Dusty May saw enough in the Mavericks’ opener to identify both the problems and a few possible solutions. The challenge is making those corrections before Friday’s visit to the Pacers. Dallas lost 128-110 to the Rockets on Wednesday, with a 38-12 second quarter creating a deficit that overwhelmed an otherwise productive night from Cooper Flagg. […]
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In the Mavericks’ 128-110 season‑opener loss to the Rockets, bench guard Marcus Sasser impressed with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 from three) in under 24 minutes. Acquired in July’s six‑team deal, Sasser’s efficient burst—including multiple threes and a late run—ignited speculation that Dallas finally has a reliable backup guard. With Kyrie Irving set for rest games and the Mavs guard‑light, his performance could cement a vital sixth‑man role alongside fellow bench scorer Naji Marshall.
The Rockets opened their season with a 128‑point win over Dallas, shifting to a much faster pace thanks to Fred VanVleet’s return. VanVleet logged six points, 11 assists and zero turnovers, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant each poured in 30 points. The new tempo generated 29 fast‑break points and 21 forced turnovers, addressing last season’s take‑away woes. Marcus Smart provided steady ball‑handling, and despite Tari Eason’s early ejection for a flagrant foul, the team emphasized transition play and rebounding. The performance suggests Houston’s revamped offense and defensive aggressiveness could be a key storyline this year.
Mavericks Kyrie Irving waited nearly 600 days to play another regular-season game. The Rockets welcomed him back with double teams. Irving finished with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists in the Mavericks’ 128-110 opening loss Wednesday, shooting 6-of-9 from the field. He also committed four turnovers as Houston pressured him and challenged his teammates […]
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg shot 13 free throws against the Houston Rockets on opening night, and his increased volume will help him become a superstar. His body control and strength have both improved.
In a 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks, Fred VanVleet and the 2026-27 Houston Rockets got off to a strong start, giving fans their first look at their pairing with All-Star Kevin Durant. It had been 535 days since VanVleet last played for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. and Durant led with 30 points, and Fred added […]
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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant made NBA history in Wednesday night’s 128-110 season-opening win over the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center. Durant, now in his 20th season, finished with 30 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. He shot 10-of-16 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range and 8-of-11 from the free-throw […]
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