Mavericks and Rockets tie 1-1 in double-header in Macau

[Photo: Xinhua]

The Dallas Mavericks tied 1-1 on Sunday, beating the Houston Rockets 131-115 in the second game of the NBA China Games 2026 at the Venetian Arena.

With this result, the Mavericks redeemed themselves after the defeat in the first game (on Friday), when the Rockets came out on top (135-117).

Highlights for the Dallas team included Kyrie Irving (17 points and three assists), Zaccharie Risacher (16 points and two assists), and, above all, Cooper Flagg, who scored 14 points and added seven assists and four rebounds to his stat line.

In a very interesting game with 12 lead changes and seven ties, the Mavericks still had the upper hand most of the time, ending each quarter on top.

The closest score came in the first quarter, when the two teams were separated by only one point (28-27). That advantage grew to six points (30-24) by the end of the second quarter.

Still, at halftime, the 58-51 score made it clear that anything could happen in the second half.

The third quarter began much like the first, with teams evening out and both sides trading blows. In the end, the Mavericks still came out on top, but by just three points (37-34).

The most unbalanced of all quarters came in the last, with the Dallas team finally breaking the Rockets and advancing by a seven-point margin (37-30) as they reached the final buzzer.

Still, Marcus Smart (Rockets) led the game with 20 points and added four assists and five rebounds, in a game where the unused players in the first game by the Mavericks made the difference.

Rockets led the opener

On Friday, the Rockets got off to a strong start, winning before a packed crowd in Macau.

Houston took control early and built a 28-point lead. Tari Eason led Houston with 20 points, Alperen Sengün recorded a triple-double, and second-year Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg scored a team-high 19.

The game was the first of two preseason meetings between the Texas teams, and Macau returns for a second consecutive year of NBA preseason basketball after a six-year hiatus from China.

Sengün finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Fred VanVleet scored 17 points in his return after missing the 2025-26 season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, played 19 minutes and collected six rebounds alongside his 19 points. He led Dallas in scoring as the Mavericks began their first season under coach Dusty May, who moved to the NBA after leading the University of Michigan to an NCAA championship.

Injuries shapedthe matchup

In the first of the two games, Dallas played without point guard Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from a torn left ACL suffered in March 2025. Before the game, May said the team would hold Irving out of Friday’s contest and planned to rest him until the second game in Macau. The Mavericks also missed P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II.

Irving’s anticipated return is a central storyline for Dallas. His experience and playmaking could help guide a young roster, especially as Flagg takes on a bigger role.

Although Flagg still led the Mavericks individually in the second game, Irving’s return proved essential to the Mavericks’ win in the second and final encounter.

After the first game, Flagg said he was looking forward to sharing the court with Irving and praised the guard’s ability to draw defensive attention and shape the game. He also said he was learning how to lead by watching veteran teammates, including Irving and P.J. Washington.

“It’s been an incredible training camp, being able to play together and then kind of figure that out on the fly. It’s been fun, and I’m really excited. Just sharing the court with someone like him (Irving). So, I’m really excited to get the chance to share the court. And whenever that is, it’s gonna be great,” Flagg said.

VanVleet, meanwhile, returned to action for Houston after his season-long absence. His 17 points marked a productive start, though preseason play is an early step in his return rather than a measure of how he will fare over a full season. Houston’s roster pairs established players such as VanVleet and Kevin Durant with a younger group that includes Sengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard.

Durant praises the crowd

Durant, who is entering his 19th NBA season, described the reception in Macau as a striking change from playing in front of familiar home crowds. “Sometimes back at home, we play so many games in front of the same people,” he said. “Sometimes they take us for granted a little bit.” He added that the welcome in Macao made him feel appreciated, and he praised fans for openly expressing their excitement.

The games also drew a high-profile audience to courtside, including former England soccer captain David Beckham, actor Jackie Chan, former NBA player Jeremy Lin, and Yao Ming.

Renato Marques & Nadia Shaw

NBA x Sands impact week closes with basketball carnival

The NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026 closed yesterday, Sunday, with its final event, the Community Basketball Carnival at NBA HOUSE, held at the Cotai Expo at The Venetian.

The five-day event brought together a lineup of sports icons, including NBA legend Chris Bosh; basketball Hall of Fame inductee, two-time NBA champion, and Sands global ambassador Sir David Beckham; WNBA player Zhang Ziyu; and China’s short track speed skating Olympic gold medalist Wang Meng.

Approximately 200 participants gathered at NBA HOUSE to enjoy a series of basketball-themed carnival activities and family-friendly events.

The Impact Week concluded with a basketball clinic led by an NBA coach, who guided a group of Macau Special Olympics (MSO) members through basketball skills training. Through demonstrations and personalized instruction, she helped participants improve their skills while encouraging them to push themselves.

NBA legend Chris Bosh, along with Zhang Ziyu and Wang Meng, also joined the event.

At the closing event, Patrick Dumont, governor and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, said, “Over the past few days, we have not only welcomed basketball fans from near and far to Macau through this world-class event but also extended its impact beyond the arena through a wide range of community outreach initiatives during the Impact Week, including Greater Bay Area youth exchanges, a school visit, community engagement activities, and a basketball carnival.” RD