The Dallas Mavericks are taking their first step into the 2026-27 season far from home, opening preseason play with two games against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China.
The first matchup is set for Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. CT, with the second coming Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5 a.m.
CT. Fans in DFW can also catch the games on the team’s new flagship radio home, 105.3 The Fan.
Friday’s game will air on delay at 7:30 p.m. CT, while Saturday’s game will air live.
After the trip to China, Dallas comes back to American Airlines Center for a pair of preseason home games before the regular season begins. The Mavericks host the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 14 and the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 16, with KFAA29 and 105.3 The Fan carrying both games live in Dallas.
New head coach Dusty May said the China trip is about more than just the schedule and the scenery. He told the team website that his basketball goal is to learn where this group stands against a tough opponent.
"A number of things," May said about his basketball-related goals. "First and foremost, to see where we are against a team like Houston, that’s elite defensively, that has unique parts. Just more lessons that we can refer back to, but more than anything else, just continue to learn more about our team."
There’s plenty for May to sort through, starting with Kyrie Irving’s return. Irving was a healthy participant in training camp after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL. His comeback is one of the biggest storylines in camp, and he’s sounded eager to be back on the floor.
"Personally, it’s just getting out of my own way and the mental aspect of it," Irving said this week about his rehab. "Being back on the floor, putting the uniform back on, hearing my name being called.
It feels like it’s been a distant memory. It’s been a year and some change.
"I do feel like a kid in the candy store a little bit just waiting for my opportunity to show my stuff. But I know I can’t do that without my teammates being alongside me, the coaching staff believing in me and the whole franchise giving me the confidence as well.
This wasn’t a solo job. I did a lot of work in the gym, a lot of work in the weight room, but I needed a lot of support throughout this whole journey, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually."
How Irving looks with Cooper Flagg will matter right away, especially with the rookie carrying a heavy load. That pairing figures to shape a big part of Dallas’ season, and the early evaluation comes with Irving’s future in the organization hanging in the balance.
The frontcourt also has its own question marks, most notably Dereck Lively II. The 22-year-old center is still working back after two foot surgeries over the past year, a stretch that left him in a boot, on crutches and without meaningful physical activity for nearly a full year. The Mavericks still view him as one of the core pieces around Flagg long-term, but they’re taking the recovery slowly.
Team president Masai Ujiri said Lively has followed the proper process and has "made really good progress."
"We're really happy about that," Ujiri said. "[but] we're going to be patient... until we get this right."
Ujiri is now leading basketball operations, with Mike Schmitz installed as general manager and Dusty May stepping in as head coach in his first NBA job. The organization has also made 17 other front office moves, giving Dallas a very different decision-making group heading into the season.
The roster has changed too. The Mavericks have six newcomers on the court, including three rookies, as they replace seven players from last season’s team.
And there’s one familiar name back in the mix: Dwight Powell.
The frontcourt is crowded, with May balancing Lively, Daniel Gafford, Moussa Cisse, Flagg, No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr., stretch big Santi Aldama, P.J. Washington and other versatile options.
There’s less clarity behind Irving, but the Mavericks do have some flexibility there. Marcus Sasser, a hometown addition, joins the backcourt as a backup point guard, while first-round Spanish rookie Sergio de Larrea is also in the mix. Max Christie’s shooting and Naji Marshall’s floater both return, giving Dallas a few more options as the new season gets rolling.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irvings Mavericks Return May Come Sooner Than Fans Expected
Kyrie Irvings road back to the Mavericks has moved into its final stretch, and the timing looks a little earlier than some fans may have assumed. After recovering from a torn ACL, Irving has been cleared to return to NBA play and has already been practicing since training camp, putting him back in the mix as Dallas gets ready to unveil a revamped roster.
Coach Dusty May has suggested Irving could rejoin the group during the NBA China Games 2026, with a matchup against the Houston Rockets mentioned as a possibility. The only remaining question is how Dallas manages that return across the two-game trip, a detail that should matter to the Mavericks as they balance caution with the appeal of getting one of their best players back in a meaningful setting. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kidd's Next Move After Dallas Exit Will Divide Mavericks Fans
Jason Kidds time away from the Mavericks may not last long. According to a report from Marc Stein, the former Dallas coach is in advanced talks to join ESPNs NBA studio coverage, a move that would quickly put one of the most recognizable figures from the franchises recent past back in the league spotlight. For a fan base that spent years watching him navigate the sideline in Dallas, the idea of Kidd turning up in a broadcast chair is already the kind of development that invites a strong reaction.
The surprise is not just the destination, but the fit. Kidds run with the Mavericks left behind plenty of opinions about his coaching style, his personality and the way he carried himself in the job, which is why the notion of him becoming a public-facing analyst is drawing such divided reactions. There is no confirmation of the hiring or a clear picture of what ESPN would want him to do, but the possibility alone is enough to reopen old debates around how much of Kidds appeal would translate from the bench to the studio. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Addresses The Lakers What-If Fans Still Can't Shake
Luka Doncic spent only a brief stretch alongside LeBron James after arriving in a February 2025 trade, and the overlap never quite became the sort of partnership Lakers fans had imagined. Doncic recently addressed that short-lived pairing, showing respect for James while acknowledging how much injuries and the calendar kept them from getting the kind of run together that usually turns big-name talent into a true contender.
For a fan base still wondering what might have been, the lingering issue is less about chemistry than opportunity. Doncic made clear there was never any tension between them, just not enough practice or time to build something lasting, and James has since moved on to Philadelphia, leaving Doncic as the face of the Lakers with the question of that missed window still hanging in the background. [Read more 🡒]