DHJ Quick Take: Mavericks Set 2026-27 Preseason Schedule, Highlighted By China Return
The Dallas Mavericks will play two preseason games in China against the Houston Rockets before closing out the slate with home matchups against New Orleans and Atlanta at American Airlines Center. It marks Dallas’ first trip to China since the 2018-19 preseason.
- What’s the schedule? Dallas opens the preseason in Macao against Houston on October 9 and October 11, then returns home to host New Orleans on October 14 and Atlanta on October 16 at American Airlines Center.
- Why does the China trip stand out? It’s the Mavericks’ first games there since the 2018-19 preseason, when a rookie Luka Dončić split two games with the Philadelphia 76ers in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
- What storylines does the return leg carry? Cooper Flagg and Zion Williamson headline a matchup of former Duke standouts against New Orleans, Kyrie Irving makes his preseason debut since tearing his ACL, and Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr. faces Atlanta’s Kingston Flemings, taken one pick ahead of him in the draft.
- What’s next? Dallas wraps its four-game preseason slate with the October 16 matchup against Atlanta before opening the regular season.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced their preseason schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season on Wednesday, featuring two overseas matchups in China.
Dallas And Houston To Face Off In China
On October 9 and October 11, Dallas will be in Macao to face the Houston Rockets. The first game will take place at 7 a.m. CST, while the latter will air at 5 a.m. These matchups will mark the Mavericks’ first return to China since the 2018-19 preseason, when they split games with the Philadelphia 76ers in Shanghai and Shenzhen behind a rookie Luka Dončić.
The games will be played at The Venetian Arena, owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp., which is in turn run by Dallas owner Miriam Adelson and governor Patrick Dumont. In congruence with the contests, the NBA and Sands Corp. will host multiple interactive events for fans and youth basketball clinics.
Coming off a 52-30 campaign, Houston suffered a disappointing defeat in last year’s first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Perhaps the Rockets will carry a chip with them into the preseason, where they can unleash 16-time All-Star Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün, who was also named an All-Star last season.
Two Games at American Airlines Center
Returning to the States for their final two games, the Mavericks will host the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 p.m. on October 14 at American Airlines Center before welcoming the Atlanta Hawks for a matchup at 7 p.m. on October 16 in Dallas.
Mavericks fans could be in for a treat with the matchup against New Orleans. Assuming rosters stand pat and players remain healthy, the game could feature a few former number one overall picks from Duke squaring off.
Zion Williamson, who was selected by the Pelicans in 2019, averaged 21 points and 5.7 rebounds on 60% field-goal shooting last season. He’s dealt with injuries over the course of his career, but is coming off his second-healthiest year in terms of games played after appearing in 62 of last season’s contests.
Dallas, of course, boasts reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. A year removed from his tenure with the Blue Devils, Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the NBA.
The Mavericks will also feature Kyrie Irving, who was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first overall pick out of Duke in 2011. After missing all of 2025-26 with an ACL injury, Irving will finally have a chance to show how he and Flagg can play together.
Atlanta will bring recent first-rounder Kingston Flemings in its trip to Dallas. Taken eighth overall, Flemings will be facing the Mavericks’ own first-rounder: Morez Johnson Jr., selected just one spot later at ninth.
That game will mark the end of Dallas’ preseason, the Mavericks returning to action with the start of the regular season.
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