Durant, Smith lead Rockets past Mavericks 128-110

The Houston Rockets opened with a 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Toyota Center. A 38-12 second quarter built a 32-point halftime lead. Dallas cut the deficit after halftime but never closer than 17 points. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 apiece, Alperen Sengun had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 32 points, 23 after the break. Kyrie Irving scored 15 points in 24 minutes in his first regular-season game since an ACL tear in March 2025. Fred VanVleet returned from an ACL injury with 11 assists; Houston was +19 in his 30 minutes. Durant said scorers want easy baskets to get going, then isolations that feel good, and that defense and rebounding fueled 29 fast-break points on 12-of-14 shooting. He said last year's opportunities were less efficient and the team must build on this, and called VanVleet a calming player who can settle the waters and pretty much do everything. Coach Ime Udoka said the Rockets can move Durant to different spots to make him harder to double-team and want him as a second-side handler who catches on the move after VanVleet pick-and-roll work. No factual disputes appear across the rated left, center, and right coverage.