Halloween weekend is often synonymous with candy, costumes, scary movies and haunted houses. Well, this year the only thing that matters is THE MARCH TO THE NBA CUP BEGINNING. That’s right, the NBA’s convoluted, definitely not confusing Cup is once again up for grabs. The group stage begins in earnest on Friday evening, with the Mavericks and Rockets kicking off West Group A competition.
Looking at the group, it’s shaping up to be the West’s group of death.
Houston is maybe the best team in the league. Denver still has Jokic and Murray. Utah has a lot of talent, although some injuries have taken their toll in Salt Lake City. Dallas has gotten off to a shockingly good 3-2 start, and Phoenix still has talent, even without a real point guard. It’s a tough draw, and Dallas getting off to a 1-0 start in group play would be very helpful towards getting them through into the knockout rounds.
Knowing what’s at stake, here are a few tricks or treats to know before Houston faces off against Dallas.
TRICK: The first game between these two teams
It was just last week when the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets last met. In case you selectively forgot the result of that one, Dallas found themselves down by as many as 37 points in an eventual 18-point loss. However, just because that result exists doesn’t mean the Mavericks are doomed against this Rockets squad.
Yes, the Rockets do present some unique challenges that Dallas will have to solve. The Mavericks had a challenge simply running any sort of offense against Houston in the opener, as the defensive intensity that the Rockets brought simply overwhelmed the Dallas guards. In the four games since then, Dallas has won three of four with tenth best offensive rating in the NBA. That’s not to say that all of their issues will be solved here, as Houston has a top five defense in the NBA in their four wins since the opener, but expect Dallas to be more comfortable in this one on that end.
Conversely, the Houston offense has only been held under 120 points once, a 114-110 win over the San Antonio Spurs last Friday. Dallas got absolutely shellacked in Houston during the opener, as Houston completely dominated transition play. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Dallas will need both to hang with Houston in this one.
Treat: Tournament Dusty May
When it comes to tournament play, Dusty May is the best coach in the business. In the last calendar year, Dusty May has won two basketball tournaments (2025 Players Era, 2026 NCAA Tournament). Ime Udoka hasn’t won a tournament as a head coach EVER. Only Mike Brown of the Knicks (2026 NBA Cup, 2026 NBA Finals) has a comparable resume to the incomparable Dusty May. To steal a line from the late, great Stacey King: Big time coaches win big time games!
Trick: Dealing with Amen Thompson
The Thompson twins are both unquestioned freaks, and what Amen has done to start the year should not be overlooked. At18 points, over eight boards and nearly four assists per contest, the offensive counting stats are right near career bests. What’s scary is that the defensive impact on counting stats (one steal and just under a half block per game) are at career lows. You’ve got to assume that the counting stats will begin to increase at some point, and the Mavericks will have to be very good with the ball to ensure that Amen doesn’t wreck this contest.
Treat: The NBA Cup
It had to feel good for Adam Silver that last year’s cup featured the two teams who eventually played for the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. The regular season can be quite a grind, so even a contrived, convoluted and confusing tournament such as the Cup is a welcome change of pace. The outrageous courts, the group play, the insistence of separating every single thing by conference, it all adds to the nonsensical nature of it all. My interest in the Cup first started out as a bit, just because everyone else on the planet hated the idea. But honestly at this point, I do like the Cup, regardless of how ridiculous it is made by Adam Silver. It’s just good, clean, harmless fun.
How to watch
Tipoff is set for just after 7:00 p.m. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. I hope to see many costumes in the arena for this Halloween special! If you’re tuning in for this one, KFAA Channel 29, Mavs TV or NBA League Pass will have you covered for the broadcast.
