How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets: D’Angelo Russell’s Hot Streak Meets Kevin Durant’s NBA-Best Offense (Nov. 3, 2025)

Grant AfsethNovember 3, 2025November 3, 2025no comment

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The Dallas Mavericks continue their road trip Monday night against the Houston Rockets, still searching for consistency after a frustrating collapse in Mexico City.

Dallas fell 122–110 to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday after being outscored 35–17 in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks led 93–87 entering the final frame but were overwhelmed in the paint, surrendering 72 interior points as their undersized rotation struggled to match Detroit’s physicality.

Jalen Duren powered the Pistons with a career-high 33 points and 11 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham added 21 points and 18 assists. The Mavericks dropped to 2–4 as they continue to adjust without several key starters.

The Rockets, meanwhile, enter Monday’s matchup riding a wave of momentum after dismantling the Boston Celtics 128–101 on Saturday. Kevin Durant scored 26 points in three quarters before resting the fourth, while Amen Thompson contributed 17 points and nine rebounds. Alperen Sengun nearly posted a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists as Houston picked up its third straight win after an 0–2 start.

Houston shot 57% in the first half and led 66–48 at halftime, out-rebounding Boston 53–36 and pulling away behind Durant’s steady scoring. The 35-year-old forward went 8-of-11 from the field and 8-of-9 from

How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets

Date: Monday, November 3
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Location: Toyota Center — Houston, TX
TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Preview powered by Videogamer.com.

Dallas Mavericks Injury Report vs. Houston Rockets

Anthony Davis: Out (Left Calf Strain)
Danté Exum: Out (Right Knee Injury Management)
Kyrie Irving: Out (Left Knee Surgery)
Dereck Lively II: Out (Right Knee Sprain)

Houston Rockets Injury Report vs. Dallas Mavericks

Jabari Smith Jr.: Questionable (Right Ankle Sprain)
Isaiah Crawford: Out (G League – Two-Way)
Dorian Finney-Smith: Out (Left Ankle Surgery)
Kevon Harris: Out (G League – Two-Way)
Fred VanVleet: Out (Right Knee ACL Repair)

D’Angelo Russell Carrying the Offensive Load

D’Angelo Russell provided one of his best performances since joining Dallas, scoring a season-high 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 7-of-13 from deep. His efficiency and communication stood out, keeping the Mavericks organized in Anthony Davis’ absence.

“D-Lo was great on both ends,” Jason Kidd said. “His leadership and communication were big. He kept us organized and benefited from that organization tonight. He knocked down shots, but his talk and trying to help others on the floor was huge.”

Russell said he focused on maintaining tempo and finding rhythm amid the altitude and fatigue of Mexico City.

“To start the game, we were getting acquainted with the altitude and things like that,” Russell said. “We started to get a flow before halftime. The third quarter probably could’ve been a little better, and that carried over to the fourth.”

His 31-point outing marked his highest total as a Maverick and showcased his ability to control the offense when the team’s frontcourt is depleted.

Dallas Mavericks Find Early Offensive Flow

Despite the loss, Dallas showed encouraging signs through three quarters. The team moved the ball effectively, attacked closeouts, and hit a season-high 16 three-pointers on 45 attempts. Kidd credited the team’s willingness to share the ball and push tempo.

“We played fast, and the guys did a great job of relocating and finding the open guy,” Kidd said. “We took 45 of them. A lot of them were wide open, so we felt like we left some on the table.”

Cooper Flagg recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in one of his most balanced performances of the young season. Max Christie added 13 points, and Brandon Williams scored 12 off the bench as Dallas briefly took control in the third quarter before running out of gas.

The Paint Problem Persists

Even with Daniel Gafford returning from injury, the Mavericks struggled to contain Detroit’s interior attack. Gafford, who suffered an ankle sprain on the first day of training camp, played 17 minutes in his season debut, posting seven points and four rebounds.

“When you talk about AD, he’s one of the best players in the world,” Kidd said. “He couldn’t play tonight, so we’ve got to have other guys pick up the load. We did that for three quarters.”

Detroit’s 72 points in the paint underscored Dallas’ ongoing need for rim protection. The challenge doesn’t get easier Monday against a Rockets frontcourt featuring Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 22.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Kevin Durant Leading the Houston Rockets’ Resurgence

Houston’s marquee offseason addition, Kevin Durant, continues to anchor their offense. The 37-year-old is averaging 27.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shooting 55.1% from the floor and 40.9% from three. His presence has stabilized the Rockets’ late-game execution, an area that plagued them last season.

With Durant commanding attention, Sengun and Amen Thompson (15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists) have emerged as key complementary pieces. Houston enters at 3–2, aiming to build momentum after a slow start to the season.

What to Watch

The Mavericks remain undermanned and undersized but showed flashes of cohesion in Mexico City. Their success in Houston will depend on whether Russell can sustain his scoring surge and whether Gafford’s minutes increase to help stabilize the paint.

Flagg’s continued development adds intrigue, as the 18-year-old forward has begun to show greater composure and decision-making in half-court sets. Kidd said after Saturday’s game that the team “has to find ways to win with the guys we have.”

Dallas (2–4) will try to close the trip on a positive note before returning home later this week.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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