Mavericks Fall 128-110 to Rockets in Season Opener: Flagg's 32 Sets Teen Opener Record as Irving Returns With 15
DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks, based in Dallas County, Texas, opened their 2026-27 regular season on October 21 at Toyota Center in Houston, falling 128-110 to the in-state rival Houston Rockets.
The game unraveled in the second quarter, when Dallas was outscored 38-12, missed all 14 of its three-point attempts and shot just 4-for-19 from the field, trailing 70-38 at halftime, a 32-point deficit. Top pick Cooper Flagg started alongside Kyrie Irving in a regular-season game for the first time and led Dallas with 32 points, matching his jersey number and setting the NBA record for points by a teenager in a season opener. Irving, playing his first regular-season game since tearing his ACL, scored 15 points in 24 minutes. Marcus Sasser added 17 points off the bench, hitting four three-pointers.
For Houston, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points apiece and Alperen Sengun added 23 or more. Rockets forward Tari Eason was ejected in the first quarter after shoving P.J. Washington. Dallas next plays on October 23 on the road against the Indiana Pacers. (GSM, based on reporting by FOX 4 and Sports Illustrated)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 达拉斯市中心市景资料图（本场比赛在休斯顿丰田中心举行）。图片：Wikimedia Commons，开放授权。 / Downtown Dallas, file photo (this game was played at Toyota Center in Houston). Image: Wikimedia Commons, open license.
- 2026-10-22Mavericks Fall 128-110 to Rockets in Season Opener: Flagg's 32 Sets Teen Opener Record as Irving Returns With 15This story
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