The Rockets head to Macao for their preseason opener. What should we watch for?
The Houston Rockets will face the Dallas Mavericks at The Venetian Arena on October 9 for the first game of preseason. There are four main topics I will be keeping an eye on.
1. The Return of Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams
One of the most important things to look at will be the return of two core veterans following major health setbacks:
Fred VanVleet has been fully cleared and will be returning to his role as the starting point guard after missing significant time due to a season-ending knee ACL tear. Obviously, it will be important to see how his knee and his legs' physical abilities are holding up. Missing an entire year is a lot for anyone, so it will be important to see how rusty he is entering preseason.
Steven Adams is also fully cleared now, after undergoing ankle surgery in January. Adams gives Houston an elite physical anchor off the bench. Coach Ime Udoka plans to manage his workload and will likely be sitting out on back-to-backs at least in the early stages of the season. Adams will need to remain fearless and relentless on the offensive glass if he wants to continue his impressive performances from last season, and he will need to fully comfortable and confident with his ankle in order to do so.
2. Scaled-Back Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant just turned 38 today, September 29th 2026. Entering his 20th NBA season, Houston's coaching staff has made workload management a priority. The Rockets plan to dial back Durant’s regular-season minutes to keep him fresh for the postseason run.
This preseason game serves as the first test of Houston's newly added roster depth and ability to create efficient offense without leaning heavily on Durant.
3. Roles of Reed Sheppard and Marcus Smart
Houston boasts one of the most intriguing, complementary second-unit backcourts in the league, playing Reed Sheppard alongside Marcus Smart.
Reed Sheppard was forced to play on the ball a lot last season due to VanVleet’s injury. However, Marcus Smart was acquired this offseason and is likely to be the primary ball handler in the second unit. This will allow Reed Sheppard to play more off-the-ball and have more catch-and-shoot opportunities: freeing Sheppard from full-time ball-handling duties allows Houston to leverage his high-efficiency perimeter shooting.
4. Diagnosing the Mavericks Ahead of Opening Night
Because the Rockets open their 2026–27 regular season against Dallas just two weeks later on October 21, this preseason clash doubles as a tactical preview. Udoka will be analyzing the Mavericks’ play style, setting up a strong entry into the regular season.
