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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Date:<\/strong> 21 October 2026, early hours of the 22nd according to European time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time<\/strong>: These are the tip-off times for Rockets vs Mavericks by time zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Venue<\/strong>: Toyota Center (Houston, Dallas)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe UK, Ireland and Portugal<\/td> 01:30<\/td><\/tr> Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela<\/td> 20:30<\/td><\/tr> Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua<\/td> 19:30<\/td><\/tr> Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles)<\/td> 17:30<\/td><\/tr> Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay<\/td> 21:30<\/td><\/tr> Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama<\/td> 19:30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Rockets vs Mavericks starting lineups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rockets<\/strong><\/td> Mavericks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Fred VanVleet<\/td> Kyrie Irving<\/td><\/tr> Amen Thompson<\/td> Zaccharie Risacher<\/td><\/tr> Kevin Durant<\/td> Cooper Flagg<\/td><\/tr> Jabari Smith Jr.<\/td> PJ Washington<\/td><\/tr> Alperen Sengun<\/td> Daniel Gafford<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Rockets vs Mavericks: best bet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rockets latest: injuries and form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Player to watch: Fred VanVleet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n