Rockets Fall to Mavericks 132-115 as Smart Scores 20

Houston Cannot Hold Off Dallas

Marcus Smart scored 20 points, but the Houston Rockets fell 132-115 to the Dallas Mavericks in a preseason game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at Venetian Arena in Macao, one of two NBA China Games between the teams. Houston also received 17 points from Reed Sheppard, six assists from Amen Thompson and nine rebounds from Jabari Smith Jr.

Dallas was led by Kyrie Irving's 17 points. Zaccharie Risacher scored 16, Cooper Flagg added 14 points and seven assists, and Sergio de Larrea had seven rebounds for the Mavericks.

Dallas Builds Its Lead

The Mavericks edged Houston 28-27 after the opening quarter, with Irving scoring on a two-point shot and later making a 25-foot 3-pointer. P.J. Washington made a 3-pointer in the period for Dallas, while Smith and Smart connected from beyond the arc for the Rockets.

Dallas extended its advantage in the second quarter, outscoring Houston 30-24 and taking a 58-51 lead into halftime. Daniel Gafford scored all nine of his points in the quarter, while Washington added a 3-pointer and a dunk. Smart scored on a driving layup, made a free throw and hit a 25-foot 3-pointer for Houston.

Rockets Make a Push, Mavericks Finish

Houston opened the third quarter with a Smart free throw, a Sheppard 3-pointer and a Smith fadeaway to pull within one point at 58-57. The Rockets later moved in front 66-64 on Thompson's 23-foot 3-pointer, but Dallas answered and led 95-85 entering the fourth.

The Mavericks then outscored Houston 37-30 in the final quarter. Risacher scored nine points in the period on a 23-foot 3-pointer, a tip-in dunk, a reverse dunk and a 10-foot shot. Tarik Biberovic made a 25-foot 3-pointer and later scored on a running layup, and Dallas reached 132 points before Oscar Tshiebwe's 10-foot floating jumper gave Houston its final basket.

Records

Houston won the first game in Macao 135-117, so the teams split the series and both are 1-1 in the preseason. Attendance at Venetian Arena was 11,711.

Sources

ESPN