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Rockets vs. Mavericks: Undefeated Houston opens NBA Cup play against Dallas
Houston arrives at 5-0 for its first Emirates NBA Cup game, and a long injury report could shape the night.
A 5-0 team meets a 3-2 team
The Houston Rockets are 5-0, and they put that record on the line against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, October 30, at 7:00 PM CT. [1] The Mavericks entered the game with a 3-2 record. [1]
The game is the Rockets' first Emirates NBA Cup game of the season. [1] If you want to watch, it is shown on Space City Home Network. [2]
How both teams got here
Houston beat the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100 to stay undefeated before this game. [2] The Rockets were 13-4 to begin last season. [2]
Dallas beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96, with Cooper Flagg scoring 26 points. [1] The win handed OKC its first loss of the season. [1]
Dallas is 3-1 since the opening night matchup, with its only loss coming to the San Antonio Spurs. [2] The Rockets were favored by 5.5 points. [2]
The injury report
Alperen Sengun was listed as questionable with low back soreness. [1] Marcus Smart was listed as questionable with a left forearm strain, and Naji Marshall was listed as questionable due to illness. [1]
Tarik Biberovic was listed as doubtful with right heel bursitis. [1] Caleb Martin was listed as available despite a right thumb splint. [1]
Steven Adams was ruled out with a right soleus strain. [1] Reed Sheppard was ruled out with low back soreness. [1]
Sergio de Larrea was ruled out with a right knee sprain. [1] Quadir Copeland was ruled out while on a G League two-way assignment. [1]
Both teams are likely to have a starting big-man and a backup big-man sidelined. [1]
Adams and the earlier Dallas meeting
Steven Adams had not played in about a week, since the October 23 game against the San Antonio Spurs. [1] Before that, he sat out for two weeks after the October 9 preseason opener. [1]
In the previous Dallas meeting, Dallas shot 60% from the field and scored at will while the Rockets were missing Sengun, Adams and VanVleet. [2]
The Rockets exercised Reed Sheppard's fourth-year team option, keeping him in Houston for the 2027-2028 season. [1]
What it means for you
If you are following the NBA Cup, this is Houston's first Cup game of the season. [1] Under the NBA Cup rules described, a 4-0 record guarantees a spot in the Cup playoffs. [2]
Check the status of Sengun, Smart and Marshall, who were each listed as questionable. [1] Adams and Sheppard were ruled out. [1]
Sources
- October 30th Injury Report for Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks — roundtable.io
- Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks game preview ft. the NBA Cup! — thedreamshake.com
Written from the sources above and checked twice before publishing. How we work · Report an error
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