The Mavericks have been hit by the injury bug early, and they’ll go against a Southwest Division opponent that looks very different from last year.

DALLAS — Watch the Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3 on KFAA. Here’s a breakdown on how to tune in – and guarantee you get the clearest signal possible of the broadcast.

The Dallas Mavericks (2-4) take on the Houston Rockets (3-2) in their first true road game of the season.

The Mavs are coming off a 122-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City. The game was dictated by size. Without Dereck Lively II and with Daniel Gafford on a minutes restriction, Detroit center Jalen Duran was able to score a career-high 33 points to lead the Pistons to the 12-point win.

The loss was also dictated by field goal percentage. Two Dallas starters, Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington, had poor shooting nights, hitting just six shots of their combined 27 attempts.

The Rockets are a completely different story. They’re coming off a dominant 128-101 win over the Boston Celtics, a game in which Houston shot the ball particularly well. The team combined for a 54.5% shooting percentage and shot 65.5% from beyond the arc.

The Rockets have been led in scoring by Kevin Durant, who they acquired via trade in the offseason from the Phoenix Suns. Durant has been an elite scorer throughout his career, and his tenure in Houston so far has proven he isn’t slowing down. 

But Durant isn’t the Rockets’ only weapon. Houston’s young core is made up of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. Sengun is a triple-double threat who fills the stat sheet on both ends, and both Thompson and Smith are solid defenders. In their win over Boston, Smith racked up a game-high four blocks, adding to the team’s combined 11 rejections.

Houston has home court advantage and the advantage of health. The Mavs will be without Anthony Davis, who is officially listed as out with a calf strain, and Dereck Lively II. Daniel Gafford, who is just coming off an injury himself, will have to shoulder the load in the paint at the center position.


Dallas Mavericks injury report

Dereck Lively II: Out (Knee)Dante Exum: Out (Knee)Anthony Davis: Out (Achilles)Kyrie Irving: Out (Torn ACL)


Houston Rockets injury report

JD Davidson: Out (Personal reasons)Jabari Smith Jr.: Questionable (Ankle)Dorian Finney-Smith: Out (Knee)Fred VanVleet: Out (Torn ACL)


Up next

Wednesday, Nov. 5 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:30 p.m. on WFAAFriday, Nov. 7 | at Memphis Grizzlies – 7 p.m. on KFAASaturday, Nov. 8 | at Washington Wizards – 6 p.m. on KFAA