The Houston Rockets Dominate in their First Preseason Game

The Houston Rockets began their 2026 preseason campaign with a superb performance, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 135–117 in the opener of the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena in Macao.

One of the standout performers was Fred VanVleet, who made his first appearance on the court since suffering a severe ACL tear last season. Across 24 minutes, the veteran point guard put up 17 points, going 5-of-12 from the field. All five of his makes came from three-point range.

The veteran point guard orchestrated Houston’s offense at a high caliber and vastly improved the offense’s spacing and structural flow. Operating primarily out of high pick-and-roll sets with Alperen Şengün, VanVleet dished out 7 assists with minimal turnovers, keeping Houston's transition break moving and facilitating a 38-point second-quarter surge.

The player of the match was surely Şengün, as he posted a triple-double in just under 22 minutes. He went 6-of-9 from the floor, scoring 16 points. He added 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

He could have had a bigger night, but Houston pulled ahead 65–45 by halftime behind a 38-point second-quarter explosion, which allowed head coach Ime Udoka to comfortably manage starter workloads down the stretch.

While the starters set the foundation, Houston’s second unit broke the contest open. Forward Tari Eason provided a surge of energy off the bench, leading the Rockets with a team-high 20 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in 24 minutes.

Second-year guard Reed Sheppard flashed his lethal shooting stroke, pouring in 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Jabari Smith Jr. added 12 points in 22 minutes, while Bruce Thornton provided a late scoring punch with 13 points.

For Dallas, the night belonged largely to rookie forward Cooper Flagg. Despite facing Houston's length on defense, Flagg led the Mavericks with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block in 19 minutes, showcasing flashes of high-level transition scoring.

Naji Marshall added 16 points, while Max Christie chipped in 14 points on four triples. However, the Mavericks struggled to keep pace defensively against Houston's interior pressure, surrendering 54 points in the paint and 27 points off 21 turnovers.

The Rockets put up a dominant performance on both ends of the court, but their offensive efficiency was the most surprising. The Rockets knocked down 54.7% of their attempts from the field and connected on 18 of 36 shots from three-point range.

The Rockets will play the Mavericks again on Sunday, October 11, and will be a big favorite yet again. The Rockets will look to build on their impressive performance, and carry their moment into the beginning of the upcoming NBA regular season