NBA to play Rockets-Mavericks preseason games in Macau during China Games

The NBA will hold two preseason games between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks as the 2026 China Games on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11 at the Venetian Arena in Macau. Tip-off is 8 p.m. local time on Oct. 9 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 11, which is 8 a.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern Time, respectively.

Both teams are based in Texas. The Rockets and Mavericks will each travel more than 8,000 miles from Texas to Macau for the games. Before the first game, the teams will have three days of preparation, including fan interaction, sightseeing in the city and practices. Both games will be played at the Venetian Arena, and this is the second consecutive year Macau has hosted the event.

The China Games began in 2004 and this year marks the 16th edition. So far, 30 preseason games have been played as part of the event. Preseason games are exhibitions held before the regular season, and playing them overseas is intended to grow interest in basketball. Because of time differences, games held abroad are often scheduled in the local evening or early morning.

This season, the NBA has five international games scheduled. Canada Games 2026 will be played on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, the Mexico City Game on Nov. 7, the Paris Game on Jan. 14 and the Manchester Game on Jan. 17. The China Games is one of them.

Fan events are also planned before and after the games. NBA House will be open free to the public from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11 at Halls A and B of Cotai Expo inside the Venetian in Macau. The five-day event will combine music, fashion, retail, displays of cutting-edge technology and food. NBA Fan Day will be held at the same venue on Oct. 10, featuring interaction with NBA players and performances by popular Asian artists.

As a community initiative, Community Impact Week will be held from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11 at venues across Macau. Social responsibility programs focused on health, wellness and sustainability will be offered to local schools and organizations. Games can be watched on NBA TV and NBA League Pass, and tickets are on sale.

For the Mavericks, this is the first road trip under a new coaching staff. This season, Dusty May replaced Jason Kidd as head coach. How the team handles a schedule involving long-distance overseas travel under its new coach will be a key focus in evaluating the team's future.

Background

The Mavericks replaced Jason Kidd with Dusty May as head coach this season. The NBA will also hold regular-season games this season in Mexico City, Paris and Manchester.

Basketball Press view

The China Games is a longstanding event through which the NBA brings games to fans overseas. For overseas preseason games, the focus is less on results than on how a team with new leadership adjusts to long-distance travel and time differences. For the Mavericks, it is the first trip under Dusty May, and two games against the Rockets offer a chance to gauge the team's readiness this season. Fan events and community programs position Macau's week as a venue for exchange beyond competition.

Translated from the Japanese article by the Basketball Press editors. AI is used to assist in translation.