Key Takeaways:
- Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. both tallied 30 points as Houston secured a comfortable win against Dallas in their first game of the season
- The Rockets exploded in the second quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 38-12 to build a 32-point lead at half-time
- Cooper Flagg topped Dallas’ scoring with 32 points, while Kyrie Irving returned from injury to notch 15
Match Summary
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each amassed 30 points, propelling the Houston Rockets to a commanding 128-110 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks in both teams’ season opener. The hosts created separation early, leading by six after the opening period, and delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring the visitors 38-12 to stretch their lead to 32 points at the interval.
Durant and Smith each netted 16 points in the first half, helping Houston break away after a 19-2 run saw them surge to a 70-38 advantage at the break. The Rockets’ tenacious play set the tone for the rest of the contest, with Dallas unable to recover despite some late scoring flurries.
1-0 😄 https://t.co/1FqQbWHupE
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 22, 2026
Key Player Contributions
In his first regular-season appearance since sustaining a torn left ACL in March 2025, Kyrie Irving posted 15 points for the Mavericks. For new head coach Dusty May, who recently joined Dallas after capturing an NCAA title with Michigan, the match proved challenging as his side struggled to keep pace.
Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and reigning Rookie of the Year, led all Mavericks scorers with 32 points. P.J. Washington added 10 points and collected four rebounds for Dallas.
The Mavericks showed fight late, mounting a 9-0 charge fuelled by six points from Marcus Sasser to cut the deficit to 103-86 with around nine minutes remaining. However, the Rockets swiftly countered with an 8-2 spree, punctuated by three-pointers from Durant and Fred VanVleet, extending their lead to 111-88 only a minute later.
For Houston, Alperen Sengun contributed a double-double, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds. VanVleet marked his comeback, having missed the previous campaign recovering from a torn ACL, by adding 11 assists alongside six points.
Notable Incidents
Tari Eason of Houston was ejected late in the first quarter after a flagrant foul 2 for shoving P.J. Washington to the floor, leaving the Rockets shorthanded but undeterred.
Looking Ahead
The Dallas Mavericks will travel to Indiana for their next matchup on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are set to take on the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas, also on Friday.
