Mavericks vs. Rockets: Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. score 30 each as Houston routs Dallas 128-110

The Houston Rockets didn’t need long to settle the Texas rivalry’s first chapter of the season. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 30 points, Houston won the second quarter 38-12, and the Rockets cruised past the Dallas Mavericks 128-110 at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The one bright spot for Dallas was a record night from Cooper Flagg. The game drew more than 200,000 US searches, according to Google Trends.

Mavericks vs. Rockets: final score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Mavericks	26	12	38	34	110
Rockets	32	38	30	28	128

Houston’s biggest lead was 37 points, per NBA.com. Attendance was 18,055.

The second quarter that decided it

The Rockets led by six after one quarter, then blew the game open. Houston was up 15 midway through the second before a 19-2 run made it 70-38 at halftime, the Associated Press reported. Durant and Smith had 16 points apiece by the break.

Dallas made one real push in the fourth quarter. A 9-0 run, with six points from Marcus Sasser, cut the deficit to 103-86 with about nine minutes to play. Houston answered right away with an 8-2 spurt, including 3-pointers from Durant and Fred VanVleet, to push it back to 111-88.

Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. stats

• Kevin Durant (HOU): 30 points
• Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU): 30 points
• Alperen Sengun (HOU): 23 points, 10 rebounds
• Fred VanVleet (HOU): 6 points, 11 assists in his return from a torn ACL that cost him last season

Smith’s matching 30 explains why his name was among the night’s top related searches. One sour note for Houston: Tari Eason was ejected with about three minutes left in the first quarter after a flagrant foul 2 for shoving P.J. Washington to the floor, per the AP.

Cooper Flagg sets a record for teenagers

Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1 pick and last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, led all scorers with 32 points. According to Sports Illustrated, he added 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and a block, shooting 10-of-17 from the field, 11-of-13 at the line and 1-of-4 from 3.

The Mavericks’ communications staff said his 32 points were the most ever by a teenager in an NBA season opener. SI’s writer said he believes Flagg passed Lamar Odom, who scored 30 in his 1999 debut, though that comparison was the writer’s own research rather than an official league note.

Flagg was quiet early, with nine points in the first half and no field goals in the second quarter, the same quarter Dallas lost by 26.

Kyrie Irving returns, Dusty May debuts

Kyrie Irving scored 15 points in his first regular-season game since tearing his left ACL in March 2025, the AP reported. P.J. Washington added 10 points and four rebounds.

It was also the NBA coaching debut for Dusty May, who led Michigan to the NCAA championship before Dallas hired him to replace the fired Jason Kidd. It was, as the AP put it, a tough debut.

What’s next

The Mavericks visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The Rockets play the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas, the same night. Houston now leads the four-game season series 1-0, per ESPN.

FAQ

Who won Mavericks vs. Rockets? Houston won 128-110 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.

How many points did Cooper Flagg score? 32, the most by a teenager in a season opener, according to the Mavericks.

Who led the Rockets? Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr., with 30 points each.

Who is the Mavericks’ coach? Dusty May, formerly of Michigan, who made his NBA coaching debut.