Mavericks Finish With 37-Point Fourth, Beat Rockets 132-115

Dallas finishes strong

Marcus Smart scored 20 points, but the Dallas Mavericks closed with a 37-point fourth quarter and defeated the Houston Rockets 132-115 in a preseason game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at Venetian Arena in Macao. Dallas led 95-85 after three quarters before adding to its advantage in the final period.

Kyrie Irving scored 17 points for Dallas, and Zaccharie Risacher added 16. Cooper Flagg recorded seven assists, while Sergio de Larrea had seven rebounds. For Houston, Reed Sheppard scored 17, Amen Thompson had six assists and Jabari Smith Jr. collected nine rebounds.

Houston keeps pace early

The Mavericks held a 28-27 edge after the opening quarter. Houston briefly moved in front early in the second quarter, taking a 31-28 lead after an Amen Thompson pullup jumper. Dallas answered with a 21-3 stretch to take a 49-34 advantage, then carried a 58-51 lead into halftime.

P.J. Washington made a 3-pointer and a dunk in the second quarter, and Daniel Gafford scored nine points during the period. Smart made a 3-pointer late in the half, Sheppard added a running dunk, and Houston remained within seven points at the break.

Third-quarter swing

Houston opened the third quarter with six straight points, including a 3-pointer by Sheppard and a fadeaway jumper by Smith, to cut Dallas' lead to 58-57. The Rockets later went ahead 66-64 after Thompson made a 23-foot 3-pointer.

Dallas regained control as Max Christie, Flagg and Risacher made shots during a stretch that put the Mavericks ahead 74-72. After a tie at 77, Dallas closed the quarter on an 18-8 run to take a 95-85 lead into the fourth.

Records and setting

Dallas outscored Houston 37-30 in the fourth quarter. Tarik Biberovic made a 25-foot 3-pointer during the period, and Dallas reached 132 points before Oscar Tshiebwe's 10-foot floating jump shot produced Houston's last points.

The NBA China Game drew 11,711 at Venetian Arena. Houston won the first game in Macao 135-117, so both teams are 1-1 in the preseason.

Sources

ESPN