Alperen Şengün opens the season with a double-double

The Houston Rockets opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a 128-110 road win in Dallas. Turkish national team player Alperen Şengün had a double-double in the first game of the season, with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Şengün also recorded 5 assists, made 9 of 15 field goal attempts, and hit both of his 2 three-pointers.

For Houston, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points each. The pair had 16 points apiece in the first half. The Rockets finished the first quarter 6 points ahead, then won the second quarter 38-12 and went into the locker room leading 70-38. The visitors extended the gap to 32 points with a 19-2 run in the middle of the second quarter.

Dallas tried to recover in the second half. The Mavericks used a 9-0 run in the final quarter to cut the score to 103-86. However, three-pointers from Kevin Durant and Fred VanVleet gave Houston control again.

For Dallas, Cooper Flagg, who was named Rookie of the Year last season, led his team in scoring with 32 points. Kyrie Irving, playing his first regular season game since his left ACL injury in March 2025, scored 15 points. VanVleet, who missed last season with an ACL injury, played in his comeback game with 6 points and 11 assists.

For Houston, Tari Eason was ejected with a Flagrant 2 foul after shoving P.J. Washington to the floor late in the first quarter.