Mavs in Macao: How to Watch China Preseason Games vs. Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks, with a new coach, a new front office, and nearly half the roster joining the team from elsewhere this offseason, begin the 2026-27 season with a pair of preseason games against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China.

The games are set for Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. CT and Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5 a.m. CT.

The Mavs announced that both games will be available to stream for free at Mavs.com/ChinaGames.

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For fans in the DFW, the team's new flagship radio station, 105.3 The Fan, will also broadcast the games. Friday's game will air on delay at 7:30 p.m. CT, while Saturday's game will air live.

Dallas' preseason returns home for two games at the American Airlines Center before the regular season gets underway. The Mavs host the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 14 and the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 16, with KFAA29 and 105.3 The Fan in Dallas providing live coverage of both.

New head coach Dusty May spoke with the team website about his mission for the two preseason games in China, in addition to the community outreach and excursions the team experienced in days prior.

"A number of things," May said about his basketball-related goals. "First and foremost, to see where we are against a team like Houston, that’s elite defensively, that has unique parts. Just more lessons that we can refer back to, but more than anything else, just continue to learn more about our team."

Kyrie Irving has been a healthy participant in training camp and is returning after sitting the entirety of the 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL.

Irving's stamina and playmaking will be crucial to lift a weight of responsibility off Cooper Flagg's shoulders, and how much the two work off one another will dictate a large portion of the Mavs' competitiveness ... which will be evaluated early as Irving's future with the organization looms in its balance.

"Personally, it’s just getting out of my own way and the mental aspect of it," Irving said this week about his rehab. "Being back on the floor, putting the uniform back on, hearing my name being called. It feels like it’s been a distant memory. It’s been a year and some change.

"I do feel like a kid in the candy store a little bit just waiting for my opportunity to show my stuff. But I know I can’t do that without my teammates being alongside me, the coaching staff believing in me and the whole franchise giving me the confidence as well. This wasn’t a solo job. I did a lot of work in the gym, a lot of work in the weight room, but I needed a lot of support throughout this whole journey, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually."

Center Dereck Lively II is still easing his way into full strength following two foot surgeries over the past year that have left him in a boot, on crutches and without any substantial physical activity in almost a full year.

Luckily the Mavericks are not without frontcourt players, but the intention is that Lively, 22, is among the core pieces worth including in the foundation built around Flagg long-term.

Team president Masai Ujiri says Lively has gone through the proper process for his recovery from foot surgery and has "made really good progress."

"We're really happy about that," Ujiri said. "[but] we're going to be patient ... until we get this right."

Ujiri is in as president of basketball operations. Mike Schmitz is the general manager. Dusty May is the head coach making his first jump into the NBA game, and 17 more front office moves make up a new-look team of Mavericks decision-makers entering the new season.

We've already begun to learn about Ujiri's intentions through his busy offseason of roster building, but May's style will be particularly interesting to find out.

On the court, the Mavs' roster features six newcomers (three of which are rookies) to replace the seven players departing from last year's team.

And Dwight Powell is .... back?

The frontcourt is especially crowded. Next to Lively, May is tasked with managing a rotation for centers Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cisse, and forwards Flagg, No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr., stretch-big Santi Aldama, P.J. Washington, and other, versatile pieces.

Behind Irving there is less certainty, but potentially some room for creativity. Marcus Sasser joins his hometown team as a backup point guard, along with first-round Spanish rookie Sergio de Larrea. Max Christie's perimeter shooting and Naji Marshall's deadly floater both return.