Game preview
Dallas Mavericks0-0at
Houston Rockets0-0
Fri, Jan 1, 8:30 PM ESTToyota Center, Houston, TX
DAL has the rest edge with 72.5h between tipoffs, 26h more than HOU.
What the model saw — 46
Where to watch
Broadcast listings usually firm up closer to game day. League Pass carries it either way.
- League Pass
- Radio
Blackouts & League Pass
League Passblacks out games in each team's home market and national-exclusive windows — those are the feeds listed above. How NBA TV works now →
What to know before tip
- DAL has the rest edge with 72.5h between tipoffs, 26h more than HOU.
- HOU is carrying the heavier travel load at 1,641 mi from its previous stop.
- HOU is dealing with east-to-west pressure: 0h on the body clock and +2h of zone shift.
- HOU is playing into a 4 in 6 schedule window, which matters even before the ball goes up.
- DAL is in game 1 of 3 on the road with 0 mi already logged before tip.
Who's in, who's out
DAL
3 day-to-day- DTDDereck Lively IIFoot — Surgery · targeting Oct 1
- DTDKyrie IrvingKnee — Surgery · targeting Oct 1
- DTDSanti AldamaKnee — Surgery · targeting Oct 1
HOU
3 day-to-day- DTDFred VanVleetKnee — Surgery · targeting Oct 1
- DTDKevin DurantAnkle — Sprain · targeting Oct 1
- DTDSteven AdamsAnkle — Surgery · targeting Oct 1
Rest, travel, and body clock
| Schedule spot | DAL | HOU |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Days rest | 2 days | 1 day |
| Hours rest | 72.5h | 46.5h |
| Rest swing | +26h | -26h |
| Travel in | 227 mi | 1,641 mi |
| Zone change | 0h | +2h |
| Body clock | 0h | 0h |
| Local tip | evening | evening |
| Segment | Road trip · 1 of 3 | Homestand · 1 of 4 |
| Miles before tip | 0 mi | 0 mi |
| Schedule alerts | — | 4 in 6 |
| Fatigue Index | 1 | 5 |
HOU carries the heavier fatigue load tonight — 5 vs. DAL's 1.
How each side got here
DAL
227 miDAL came from Dallas, TX with 227 mi of travel and 0h of time-zone change.
Dallas, TX to Houston, TX
HOU
1,641 miHOU came from San Francisco, CA with 1,641 mi of travel and +2h of time-zone change.
San Francisco, CA to Houston, TX
Where this game sits in the run
DAL
Road tripDAL is on game 1 of 3 on the road, with 0 mi already behind it.
HOU
HomestandHOU is in game 1 of 4 on this homestand.







