The Houston Rockets’ trip through China ended with a very different look the second time around.
After impressing in game 1, Houston went without Kevin Durant, Steven Adams, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun in game 2, and the missing firepower showed. Dallas, meanwhile, got Kyrie Irving back and rode that boost to a 132-115 win over the Rockets.
Marcus Smart drew the start for Houston and made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists while hitting 4 of 9 from 3-point range. Clint Capela’s night was quieter by comparison, as he posted five points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes.
Even while trailing for much of the game, the Rockets got encouraging showings from several younger pieces. Jabari Smith Jr. kept looking more assertive, putting up 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Reed Sheppard added 17 points on 4-for-10 shooting from deep, though he also committed five turnovers. Amen Thompson turned in 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Houston also dipped further into its youth, giving Oscar Tshiebwe and Bruce Thornton run. Tshiebwe finished with 12 points and four rebounds, while Thornton scored nine in 18 minutes.
Irving set the tone for Dallas with 17 points in just 22 minutes, and the Rockets had no answer as he cut through the defense in front of Ime Udoka. Zaccharie Risacher added 16 points, and Cooper Flagg chipped in 14 to help round out the Mavericks’ scoring.
Now the Rockets head home from China and settle into the rest of their preseason schedule. As one of the NBA’s preseason international teams, they have only three preseason games left. Next up is a Thursday night home matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, set for 7:30 and airing on NBA TV.
In Other News...
Marcus Smart Is Already Pressuring Houstons Young Guards
Marcus Smarts first preseason run with the Rockets offered a quick reminder of why Houston wanted him in the building this summer. In his debut against the Mavericks, the veteran guard brought the kind of edge and organization the roster has been looking for, blending scoring with playmaking while settling in alongside Fred VanVleet and the rest of Houstons backcourt mix.
Ime Udoka praised Smarts experience and leadership afterward, pointing to the way he can help steady a young group while adding to the teams defense and overall depth. For a Rockets team trying to sharpen its guard rotation early in the season, Smarts arrival already looks like more than just an extra veteran voice. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Fans May Not Love Cooper Flagg's Latest Kevin Durant Comparison
Cooper Flagg keeps drawing attention before his first full NBA season even gets rolling, and the latest buzz came after a preseason game in which the Dallas forward posted 14 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign in which he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, Flagg already has the league talking about how quickly his game and presence are translating at this level.
Kyrie Irving added to the noise by drawing a familiar comparison, one that tends to land differently depending on the audience. For Rockets fans, any mention of Kevin Durant still hits close to home, especially with Durant now in Houston after another All-NBA Second Team season. The comparison says plenty about where Flaggs reputation is headed, and it also helps explain why his every preseason flash is getting treated like more than just an early October highlight. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Face An Early Point Guard Question They Can't Ignore
Fred VanVleet is on the road back to regular-season action after the ACL injury that ended his season, and the Rockets are already mapping out how they want the point guard spot to look once he is available again. Houston head coach Ime Udoka has made it clear VanVleet is expected to return to his starting role, which gives the Rockets a familiar late-game organizer and steady hand as they try to build on last seasons momentum.
The wrinkle is the start of next season, when VanVleet could miss some early games and leave Houston sorting through its options without much margin for error. Amen Thompson, Marcus Smart and Reed Sheppard all loom as possible answers in the meantime, and the choice matters because the Rockets need someone who can keep the offense organized while the rotation settles in around VanVleets comeback. [Read more 🡒]