The Houston Rockets will look to continue their perfect start to the 2026-27 NBA season when they face the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA Cup Group Play matchup on Friday night at the American Airlines Center.

Houston enters the contest with a 5-0 record, while Dallas has won three of its first five games. The matchup gives the Rockets another opportunity to demonstrate their early-season consistency against a Mavericks team looking to respond after losing their season opener to Houston.

The Rockets have already beaten Dallas 128-110 this season. Their second meeting comes with both teams looking to build momentum in the Western Conference. Yahoo Sports+1

Rockets Aim to Maintain Their Perfect Record

Houston has started the season with five consecutive victories, establishing itself as one of the early teams to watch in the Western Conference.

The Rockets most recently defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100. Fred VanVleet delivered an impressive performance, scoring a season-high 24 points after returning from a lengthy absence caused by knee surgery.

Six Houston players scored in double figures against Milwaukee, highlighting the team’s offensive depth and ability to find contributions beyond its leading scorers. CBS Sports

Fred VanVleet Gives Houston a Major Offensive Boost

VanVleet’s return has added another dimension to Houston’s backcourt. His experience, perimeter shooting and ability to organize the offense have helped the Rockets manage games even when key players are unavailable.

Kevin Durant also remains a major part of Houston’s offensive plans. His scoring ability and experience give the Rockets another dependable option in close games.

Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson have also contributed to the team’s strong start. Their scoring, rebounding and defensive energy have helped Houston maintain its balance throughout the opening games.

Dallas Mavericks Look to Challenge Houston

Dallas enters the matchup after recording a 120-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cooper Flagg has been a major contributor, giving the Mavericks an important scoring option.

Flagg has averaged 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game entering this matchup, according to the available team statistics. His ability to score and create opportunities will be important against Houston’s defense. CBS Sports

Kyrie Irving also provides Dallas with valuable offensive experience. His ball-handling and ability to create shots could help the Mavericks challenge Houston’s defensive pressure.

The Mavericks will need stronger perimeter shooting and better control of turnovers if they want to reverse the result of their first meeting with Houston.

Rockets vs Mavericks: Live Score and First-Half Highlights

Halftime update

Houston carried a seven-point advantage into halftime, leading Dallas 51-44. The Rockets recovered from a slow opening quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 31-17 in the second period.

Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 13 points, while Amen Thompson added 10 points and four assists. Fred VanVleet contributed six points and four assists.

Cooper Flagg kept Dallas competitive with 15 points and seven rebounds in the first half. Kyrie Irving added nine points and three assists. ESPN

Rockets Injury Report: Key Players Missing Against Dallas

Houston entered the matchup without several important players. Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard were listed out with back injuries, while Steven Adams remained unavailable because of a calf issue.

These absences put additional responsibility on Houston’s available frontcourt players and increased the importance of its bench contributions.

Dallas also had injury concerns, with Santi Aldama, Sergio De Larrea and Dereck Lively II among the players listed unavailable. ESPN+1

The game is part of the Emirates NBA Cup West Group A schedule at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. NBA.com+1