The Dallas Mavericks will open their 2026-27 NBA season on the road Wednesday against the Houston Rockets with four players officially ruled out due to injury. Only Jett Howard is listed as questionable for the Texas showdown at the Toyota Center. This comes after the Mavericks closed their preseason with a 111-135 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on October 16.
Head coach Dusty May will be without center Dereck Lively II, forward Santi Aldama, guard Caleb Martin, and wing Tarik Biberovic. Lively II is still recovering from right foot surgery performed last December. The team has not provided a timeline for his return, and he played just seven games last season.
Aldama is working his way back from offseason right knee surgery. Coach May recently said the forward is close to being ready, but he won't be rushed for the opener. Martin, who played in three preseason contests, is dealing with a new sprained right thumb. Biberovic has been downgraded to out with bursitis in his right heel.
Jett Howard is the lone Maverick carrying a questionable tag. He could be upgraded to available or ruled out before the 8:30 p.m. tip-off. His potential absence would further thin the team's wing rotation. The Mavericks' injury situation puts immediate pressure on their remaining frontcourt players like Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington to handle major minutes.
This early test comes as the franchise embarks on a new era under team president Masai Ujiri and coach May. Their preseason was a mixed bag, featuring a split with these same Rockets. Dallas won 132-115 on October 11 but lost 117-135 on October 9.
The absences create a significant challenge against a healthy Rockets squad. Houston welcomes back point guard Fred VanVleet, which allows Kevin Durant to focus more on scoring. Amen Thompson, fresh off a massive contract extension, and Alperen Sengun, a two-time All-Star, provide additional firepower.
For Dallas, the offensive burden falls even more heavily on the duo of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, begins his second season as the franchise cornerstone. Irving returns to action after dealing with a knee injury. Their chemistry and production will be vital to offset the missing defensive presence of Lively II and Martin.
The season opener kicks off a critical campaign for the reshaped Mavericks. After facing the Rockets, the team's focus will shift to building continuity and weathering this early injury storm. How Coach May manages rotations and integrates players like Zaccharie Risacher will be a key early storyline. The front office's roster construction around Flagg faces its first real test under regular season pressure.
