The Rockets vs Mavericks opener answered one question emphatically: Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant. Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points apiece — 16 each in the first half — as the Houston Rockets thumped the Dallas Mavericks 128-110 on Wednesday night, October 21, 2026, at the Toyota Center.
Full box score and recap via ESPN.
The 38-12 second quarter that decided it
This one was over early. Houston outscored Dallas 38-12 in the second quarter, turning a competitive game into a rout before halftime. Alperen Sengun added 23 points and 10 rebounds, Fred VanVleet chipped in 6 points and 11 assists in his Houston debut, and Marcus Sasser sparked a 9-0 run with 6 quick points of his own.
Durant’s Houston era begins with 30
Durant’s first regular-season game as a Rocket could hardly have gone better: 30 points on the night, setting the tone alongside Smith. The Rockets looked every bit the contender their offseason moves suggested — deep, long, and ruthless in transition.
Flagg’s 32 points come in defeat
The brightest spot for Dallas was Cooper Flagg. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick and last season’s Rookie of the Year led the Mavericks with 32 points, looking every bit the franchise cornerstone. Kyrie Irving added 15 in his first regular-season game since tearing his left ACL in March 2025 — a welcome sight for Dallas even on a losing night. P.J. Washington contributed 10 points and 4 rebounds.
The ejection that summed up Dallas’s night
Tari Eason was ejected on a flagrant 2 foul with about three minutes left in the first quarter — an early flashpoint in a game that quickly slipped away from the Mavericks.
What’s next
Dallas heads to Indiana on Friday, while Houston faces San Antonio in Austin the same night. For the Rockets, the opener was a statement; for the Mavericks, it is back to the drawing board — with the consolation that Flagg looks ready to carry them.
