The 2026-27 season gets underway with a mix of hope and doubt for Houston and Dallas. Both sides come off a campaign in which they fell short of the expectations they began with, but they have more than enough talent to put things right and finally become the fearsome teams they look capable of being on paper. And to do so, opening with a win over their neighbours looks like an excellent first step.
Date and time of Rockets vs Mavericks
Date: 21 October 2026, early hours of the 22nd according to European time.
Time: These are the tip-off times for Rockets vs Mavericks by time zone.
| The UK, Ireland and Portugal | 01:30 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela | 20:30 |
| Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua | 19:30 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 17:30 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay | 21:30 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama | 19:30 |
Venue: Toyota Center (Houston, Dallas)
Rockets vs Mavericks starting lineups
With Fred VanVleet back, Houston will finally be able to field the starting five that should have been their main unit last year. In Dallas, meanwhile, we can assume Dusty May will go with the same five he used in their last preseason game.
| Rockets | Mavericks |
| Fred VanVleet | Kyrie Irving |
| Amen Thompson | Zaccharie Risacher |
| Kevin Durant | Cooper Flagg |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | PJ Washington |
| Alperen Sengun | Daniel Gafford |
Rockets vs Mavericks: best bet
Houston should use their greater depth of talent and resources to start the year on the right foot. Dallas could be one of those surprise sides who turn out better than expected, but for now they look to be starting behind the Rockets.
Rockets latest: injuries and form
In a way, this is the first season of this project for the Houston Rockets. Although the squad is virtually identical to last year’s, the fact that Fred VanVleet got injured before the season started turned 2025-26 into something of a testing ground and a lost year for the Texans, who chose to wait a year rather than move to cover the hole at point guard. Now we will see whether that patience was justified.
On paper, the talent is undeniable and the potential is enormous, but the sense of helplessness with which they fell in the last playoffs, and the weariness of watching them try to make things work, make it hard to be optimistic about them. For now, they start the year needing to reverse those impressions, a goal that means showing a different picture from the first game of the regular season.
Player to watch: Fred VanVleet
The Rockets have a point guard. At last. The trials with Amen Thompson, with Reed Sheppard and with anyone who offered to give it a go are over. Fred VanVleet will play another official game more than a year and a half later, and the first key question is how he will be and how much his impact on the team’s half-court offence will be felt. If the answers to those doubts are positive, it will be time to start believing in Udoka’s side.
Mavericks latest: injuries and form
After months of speculation, the time has finally come to find out what these Mavericks are. There are many decisions to make regarding several players on the roster, and they depend on whether this team shows it is ready to compete or whether it needs another year of rebuilding. Based on those impressions, the front office’s moves will be directed accordingly.
Right now the squad is somewhat caught between two worlds, with remnants of the team that reached the Finals in 2024 and young players who must work to return them to that stage in the future. And although the two can coexist, it may not make sense if the ceiling is not very promising. So the big question with Dallas is not how they will look today, but how much today’s version will resemble the one at the end of the season.
Player to watch: Cooper Flagg
The one who will certainly not be moving away from the Mavericks is Cooper Flagg, who starts his second season in the league with the task of confirming himself as the superstar he hinted at in his first. Averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, he comes off one of the most promising rookie campaigns of recent years, but he still has room to grow and climb to… where? All-Star? All-NBA? The big appeal in Dallas is starting to find out.
Rockets vs Mavericks: head-to-head record
Although the teams have gone through very different phases, in recent years parity has reigned in their direct meetings. Last season they actually split the four head-to-head games, two wins each, and overall the record in their last 10 meetings stands at 5-5.
Predictions for Rockets vs Mavericks
25+ points from Cooper Flagg. The time has come for the forward to start claiming his place among the league’s best players. And everything points to him not missing the occasion.
Houston dominate the glass. The Rockets, especially with Steven Adams back, look set to be a dominant rebounding side and should win the battle on the boards.
Double-double for Sengun. The Turkish centre comes into this season needing to prove himself, and Dallas’s doubts in the interior game give him an opportunity.
Where to watch Rockets vs Mavericks
The Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks game can be watched in the UK through a NBA League Pass subscription.