The Houston Rockets’ 2026-27 season opener against the Dallas Mavericks kicked off with immediate drama: Tari Eason got himself ejected just three minutes into the game with a flagrant-two foul for shoving PJ Washington. You read that right, three minutes into the *season*, and the dude’s done for the night. Talk about a start!
Pre-Game Jitters and Early Fireworks
Before all that madness, there was already some tension. Rockets coach Ime Udoka had given an update on Steven Adams, who was dealing with a sore calf that popped up after Tuesday’s practice. Adams was initially a game-time decision, but he got ruled out right before tip-off. Udoka mentioned to SB Nation that the “double big lineup” they’ve been running will be more matchup-based this season, but he’s still got confidence in it and plans to use it. With Adams sidelined, Fred VanVleet stepped up, making his first start in over a year as the Rockets rolled out their preseason starting lineup. Houston wanted a fast start, kicking off what they know is a super important season. It didn’t quite happen, though, as they fell behind 0-4 early. But then, bam! Three straight baskets, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet, got them right back in it. The lead was swinging back and forth, setting the stage for Eason’s mind-boggling early exit. Seriously, three minutes?! What a way to open the season, man.
Durant Takes Over, Rockets Get Any Shot They Want
Even with the early drama, a couple of things really stood out right away. Kevin Durant looked like he was getting way easier shots than we’ve seen, probably because he doesn’t have to initiate as much of the offense anymore. And honestly, it felt like the Rockets could get pretty much any shot they wanted in that first quarter. You just love to see that kind of offensive flow early on. Durant took over late in the quarter, dropping a huge 13 points in the first alone, and the Rockets managed to pull away slightly. They shot a scorching 52 percent from the field, putting up 32 points and grabbing a 32-26 lead after one. That’s a strong response after that crazy Eason ejection, right?
Houston Pushes The Pace, Maqs Cool Off
The Rockets kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, too, really starting to break the game open. They kept pushing the pace, with Jabari Smith and Kevin Durant leading the charge. Smith threw down a dunk that pushed the lead to a whopping 17 points, giving him a game-high 16 points at that moment. The pressure from Houston was relentless, and you could see the Mavericks starting to cool off. Meanwhile, the Rockets just kept their hot shooting going. This team is *on fire* to start the year!
What’s next for Adams? The hope is he can return for Friday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs or Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets clearly want him back out there, but they showed tonight they can absolutely get it done even without him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Dream Shake.
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