Durant and Smith Drop 30 Each as Rockets Rout Mavericks 128-110 in Season Opener
Houston outscored Dallas 38-12 in the second quarter and led by as many as 37 points, opening the season with a statement win at Toyota Center — with Fred VanVleet back on the floor.
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Jabari Smith Jr. added 30 of his own as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 128-110 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the teams' season opener at Toyota Center. Alperen Sengun posted 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Houston shot 52.2 percent from the floor.
The game broke open in the second quarter, which Houston won 38-12 while recording 20 fastbreak points on the way to a 32-point halftime lead. Durant converted a fastbreak dunk into a 95-58 lead in the third quarter before Dallas closed the period with an 18-5 run; the Mavericks got no closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Fred VanVleet, who missed last season with a torn right ACL, returned with a game-high 11 assists and no turnovers. "He's a calming player who can settle the waters down on the floor," Durant said of VanVleet. Amen Thompson posted 16 points and 10 rebounds. For Dallas, Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 32 points, and Kyrie Irving scored 15 in his first game since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025.
The Rockets' Texas swing continues Friday night in Austin, where Houston faces the San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center.
