Cooper Flagg set an NBA record for most points by a teenager in a season opener, scoring 32 in Dallas' 128-110 loss to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 22, 2026. The 19‑year‑old shot 10‑of‑17 from the field, hit a decisive step‑back jumper with 4:33 left, and added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block. Flagg broke Lamar Odom's 1999 mark of 30 points and continues a standout rookie year after earning 2025 Rookie of the Year and a 51‑point game last season. Coach Dusty May highlighted Flagg's aggressiveness and free‑throw reliability as key to the Mavericks' offensive shift.
Marcus Sasser nets 17 points off the bench in the Dallas Mavericks’ 128-110 season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 22, 2026. The former University of Houston star, a 2023 first‑round pick who spent three seasons with Detroit, shoots 6‑of‑8 overall and 4‑of‑5 from three, adding a rebound, assist and steal in just under 24 minutes. After missing the first three preseason games with adductor tightness, Sasser says playing in front of familiar Houston fans is “always fun.” He highlights a more aggressive second‑half approach, scoring 14 points after halftime and citing confidence from teammates like Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks acquired Sasser in a July 8, six‑team trade that also brought Santi Aldama and the rights to Tarik Biberović.
Yaxel Lendeborg got his “Welcome to the NBA” moment as familiar turnovers, defensive lapses and scoring struggles hurt the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg logged a team‑high 29 minutes in the 124‑97 loss to the Lakers, scoring 12 points and defending Luka Doncic, who went 1‑for‑6 when Lendeborg guarded him. The rookie sparked drama with trash‑talk and a technical for calling Doncic "sucks." Meanwhile, Stephen Curry returned from an ankle tweak to drop 23 points in 21 minutes, 16 in the first quarter. The team also grapples with Kristaps Porzingis’s indefinite health absence and possible trade, leaving the Warriors scrambling for a reliable big man.
In the season opener on Oct. 21, 2026, the Dallas Mavericks fell 128-110 to the Houston Rockets, marking a 0-1 start. Coach Dusty May blamed a disastrous second quarter—poor transition defense and lost composure—for the loss, noting the Rockets “outworked” them. Rookie Cooper Flagg sparked a comeback, scoring 23 of his 32 points in the second half and shooting 11‑of‑13 from the line. Reserve guard Marcus Sasser also performed well. May highlighted communication lapses and the need to tighten up on fast‑break coverage against stars Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr., while praising the first‑unit’s effort despite the defeat.
The Dallas Mavericks struggled mightily from downtown in their opening game versus the Houston Rockets, and they can only hope they improve from last year.
JJ Redick admitted that a simple $500 fine system had inadvertently helped instill confidence in Luka Doncic's ability to knock down half-court shots.
Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were completely in favor of Yaxel Lendeborg jawing with Luka Doncic during Wednesday night's game.
The Houston Rockets open the 2026 season with a dominant 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the Toyota Center. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each pour in 30 points, propelling Houston to a 70-38 halftime lead. Alperen Şengün adds a double‑double (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Fred VanVleet dishes out 11 assists. Dallas' Cooper Flagg tops the Mavs with 32 points, but the Rockets control the game with 53% shooting, 16‑of‑36 from three, and a 42‑33 rebounding edge. The Rockets’ next test comes Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
Walter Clayton Jr. is joining the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this week, according to Mike Curtis. Clayton was already on the floor with Dallas on Wednesday, October 21, following the agreement. Mavericks head coach Dusty May also discussed his longstanding connection with the guard, who […]
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The Houston Rockets leaned on the prolific scoring of Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. to dispose of the Dallas Mavericks, 128-110, in their season opener at Toyota Center on Wednesday. Durant had 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting, six rebounds, and three assists, while Smith added 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-8 from long […]
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Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points apiece as the Houston Rockets opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Houston broke the game open with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Dallas 38-12 to take a 32-point halftime lead at Toyota Center. The Rockets led […]
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Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg blamed poor organization and defensive lapses for Dallas' 18‑point loss to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 22, 2026, the team's season‑opening defeat under new head coach Dusty May. Flagg said the Mavericks went "stagnant" as Houston accelerated the pace, failed to get back in transition, and broke habits, allowing the Rockets—highlighted by a standout dunk from Kevin Durant over Flagg—to seize momentum. He stressed that the trouble went beyond missed shots, calling for better offensive structure and disciplined transition defense before the next game.
The Houston Rockets dominate the Dallas Mavericks 128-110 in the season opener, building a 32‑point halftime lead after outscoring Dallas 38‑12 in the second quarter. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg sets an NBA record for a teen with 32 points, while Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each add 30 for Houston. Kyrie Irving returns after a torn ACL, contributing 15 points, and Fred VanVleet records 11 assists in his comeback. Dallas struggles, shooting 4‑of‑19 in the second period and missing all 14 three‑point attempts, resulting in eight turnovers. Coach Dusty May cites missed breaks and loss of composure as key factors in the loss.
Grizzlies The Grizzlies handed Ty Jerome the starting point guard job. He opened the season by scoring a career-high 45 points. Jerome powered Memphis to a 123-103 win over the Jazz on Wednesday, giving the Grizzlies an emphatic first look at their new lead guard. He scored 19 points before halftime and later passed the […]
The post NBA Notes: Grizzlies, Ty Jerome, Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Bucks appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Luka Doncic has been burnt by his beloved franchise before, but he’s hoping this time will be different. Doncic admitted he hopes to finish his NBA career with the Lakers, despite never expecting to leave Dallas. “Hopefully, yeah,” Doncic told the California Post. “But as you know in this NBA business, you never know what’s […]
The post Luka Doncic Gets Honest About Finishing Career With Lakers appeared first on Basketball Forever .
The Dallas Mavericks stumble 128-110 to the Houston Rockets on opening night, with a chaotic second quarter and endless lineup swaps. Kyrie Irving returns from a torn ACL, posting 15 points on 6‑of‑9 shooting in 24 minutes and earns an A‑ grade for effort. Rookie Cooper Flagg dazzles with a game‑high 32 points (A grade), while Max Christie (C‑), P.J. Washington (C+) and Daniel Gafford (D) receive lukewarm to poor marks for shooting woes and turnovers. Coach Dusty May’s heavy rotations may have disrupted rhythm, leaving the Mavs 0‑1 as they search for cohesion.
The Dallas Mavericks stumble in their season opener, falling 128-110 to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21, 2026. A brutal 38-12 second‑quarter run gave Houston a 37‑point lead that Dallas never overcame. Rockets stars Cooper Flagg (32 points) and Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. (30 each) paced the win, while the Mavericks shot just 30 percent from three (11‑of‑37). Rookie Marcus Sasser shined with 17 points and four triples, accounting for more than a third of Dallas’ made threes. Rebounding also hurt Dallas, as Houston outboards them 44‑33, with veteran center Daniel Gafford grabbing only two rebounds in 22 minutes.
The Houston Rockets dismantled the Dallas Mavericks on both ends of the court as Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. were the main reasons why.
The Dallas Mavericks fall 128-110 to the Houston Rockets in the 2026 season opener, snapping a brief early spark with a 32-26 lead before Houston erupts for a 70-38 halftime advantage. Cooper Flagg shines with a career‑high 32 points, five rebounds and defensive stats, while Kyrie Irving adds 15 and Marcus Sasser 17. Houston’s Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each drop 30, with Alperen Sengun contributing 23 and 10 rebounds. The Rockets shoot 52.2% overall (44.4% from three) versus Dallas’s 33.3% in the first half, sealing a decisive win.
After just one game against the Houston Rockets, it's clear that it's going to take Zaccharie Risacher some time to develop for the Dallas Mavericks. Despite playing hard and crashing the glass, his shooting was nonexistent.
The Houston Rockets looked like a force tonight against the Dallas Mavericks in a dominant 128-110 victory.
Luka Doncic is coming off another dominant season, but Draymond Green believes the Lakers superstar is running out of time to win his first NBA MVP award. The four-time NBA champion made a bold prediction about Doncic’s future during a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, suggesting the 2026–27 campaign could be his final […]
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Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason will probably remember their season opener on Wednesday for the rest of his life—for the wrong reason. The Rockets hosted the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center, welcoming the much-awaited return of Fred VanVleet after a long absence due to an ACL injury. Eason, however, stole the spotlight—sort of—quite early. In […]
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Tari Eason gets tossed from the first game of the Rockets' season for shoving P.J. Washington.