Rockets Down Mavericks 135-117 in Macau Opener; Irving Sits Out, Durant Shows Fighting Spirit
SingTao · 4 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Houston Rockets claimed a convincing 135-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening game of the 2026 NBA China Games at the Venetian Arena in Macau on Friday. The Rockets showcased balanced scoring with veteran leadership from Fred VanVleet, who returned from injury to contribute 17 points, seven assists, and five three-pointers in approximately 24 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Mavericks star Kyrie Irving sat out as pre-announced but will make his debut in Sunday's second game at the same venue.
Key Points
- The Rockets dominated from start to finish, with VanVleet heating up early by drilling three consecutive three-pointers in the opening quarter, setting the tone for the victory
- Durant logged 23 minutes, scoring 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and notably requested to remain in the game during the second half despite the coaching staff's plan to rest him
- Mavericks rookie sensation Cooper Flagg continued his point guard experiments, contributing 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 19 minutes while expressing excitement about eventually pairing with Irving
- Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed Durant will rest for Game 2, while May stated Irving is guaranteed to play in Sunday's rematch
- The game attracted a star-studded audience including Yao Ming, Jackie Chan, David Beckham, Jeremy Lin, Keung To, and Jack Ma
Why It Matters
The China Games serve as a crucial preseason barometer for both franchises, with the Rockets demonstrating their readiness to contend following a strong offseason, while the Mavericks gain valuable experimentation time with their new positionless system under May. Irving's anticipated debut against Durant on Sunday promises a more competitive matchup, offering fans in Macau an authentic glimpse of two potential Western Conference powerhouses. Durant's historic chase of Kobe Bryant's third-place scoring record continues, currently sitting 1,046 points behind the late Lakers legend with 32,597 career points .
The China Games serve as a crucial preseason barometer for both franchises, with the Rockets demonstrating their readiness to contend following a strong offseason, while the Mavericks gain valuable experimentation time with their new positionless system under May. Irving's anticipated debut against Durant on Sunday promises a more competitive matchup, offering fans in Macau an authentic glimpse of two potential Western Conference powerhouses. Durant's historic chase of Kobe Bryant's third-place scoring record continues, currently sitting 1,046 points behind the late Lakers legend with 32,597 career points .