When the game inevitably turns sideways, composure and steady hands will separate Rockets and Mavericks. Who will be the adult?
Saturday night against Dallas isn’t about who scores first or who gets hot early. It’s about who grows up when the game inevitably turns sideways.
Because it will.
This matchup has a habit of turning choppy. Whistles pile up. Shots stop falling. Possessions stretch longer than they should. And the team that survives isn’t the one with the louder run — it’s the one with someone willing to slow everything down.
For Houston, that question is unavoidable: who’s the adult when the game asks for one?
Kevin Durant doesn’t need to be heroic. He needs to be steady. Dallas will send pressure, show bodies early, and dare Houston to speed itself up. Durant’s gravity already bends the floor- the real value comes when he uses it to organize possessions, drag defenders into decisions, and make everyone else’s job simpler.
Amen Thompson’s role is just as important- if not more- even without the scoring. He’s the regulator- the connective tissue. When games tighten, his rebounding, defense, and ability to keep the ball moving are what stop Houston from sliding into isolation-heavy survival mode.
Jabari Smith Jr. fits right into that equation. His discipline on the defensive end sets the tone. Against Dallas, overhelping and frustration fouls are just as damaging as missed shots. Staying vertical matters. Staying connected matters more.
This is a game Houston wins with composure.
Dallas will try to speed it up, make it physical, and see who loses shape first. Houston has already learned how fast this matchup can unravel when structure slips. Saturday night is about recognizing the moment sooner, and refusing to give it oxygen.
This one will be decided by the first team that acts like it’s been here before.