How to watch Mavericks vs. Rockets: TV channel and streaming options for October 21 New York Times (Online) Data Skrive In the first game of the 2026-27 season for both teams, the Houston Rockets play the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 21, 2026. The matchup airs on . Julian Phillips : Questionable (Illness), Steven Adams : Questionable (Calf) Dereck Lively II : Out (Foot), Santi Aldama : Out (Knee), Tarik Biberovic : Out (Heel), Caleb Martin : Out (Thumb), Jett Howard : Questionable (Calf) This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive. Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. Photo: Sam Hodde, Pool, Mark Blinch/NBAE, Angela Weiss/AFP / Getty Images