The Dallas Mavericks continued their preparations for the 2026-27 NBA season Friday, but their preseason matchup against the Houston Rockets exposed the challenge of keeping pace with a high-scoring opponent. Houston pulled away for a 135-117 victory at The Venetian Arena in Macao, China, using its offensive production to hand Dallas a preseason setback.
Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes. The young forward continued to gain valuable experience as Dallas works to establish its rotations and build chemistry ahead of the regular season.
Houston’s Alperen Şengün recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, contributing across the board as the Rockets secured the win.
Although preseason results do not count toward the regular-season standings, the matchup offered Dallas another opportunity to evaluate its personnel, sharpen its execution and identify areas that need improvement before the games begin to count.
The Mavericks will look to build on those lessons as they continue their preseason schedule.
