With 17 points, 7 assists, five 3-pointers (41.7%), and only one turnover, Fred VanVleet was dynamic in his return from injury as Houston opened its preseason schedule by routing the Dallas Mavericks, 135-117 (box score).
The Rockets were +15 in VanVleet’s 24 minutes played, and Houston’s first nine points all came courtesy of VanVleet triples.
“Everything was a heat check today,” VanVleet told reporters postgame. “I was just trying to get one up, and get one on the board, to get it out of the way and knock the rust off. But I’m just happy to be back.”
Now 32 years old, VanVleet missed all of the 2025-26 season due to an ACL tear in his right knee. This season, the veteran floor general is reclaiming his usual role as starting point guard for the Rockets.
Other key statistics from Friday’s game, which took place in Macao, China, as part of a two-game exhibition series, are as follows:
- Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds; 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%); +22 in 22 minutes
- Tari Eason: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals in 24 minutes; 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers, 6-of-7 on free throws (85.7%)
- Reed Sheppard: 16 points in 19 minutes; 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%), 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%)
- Kevin Durant: 15 points, 2 assists in 23 minutes; 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%)
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 12 points, 4 rebounds in 22 minutesl 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
- Bruce Thornton: 13 points, 2 assists in 9 minutes; 3-of-3 on 3-pointers
Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 19 points and 6 rebounds while making 7-of-14 shots from the field (50.0%).
Highlights and interviews from Friday’s Rockets-Mavs game are available below. The two-game series in China concludes with Sunday’s rematch, which tips off at 5:00 a.m. Central and can be viewed on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and NBA TV.
Later in the month, the 2026-27 regular season begins on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at home in Houston — conveniently with a third matchup versus Dallas. The Rockets and Mavericks finished last season at 52-30 and 26-56, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Fred VanVleet excels in injury return as Rockets rout Mavs to open preseason
