What happened: Fred VanVleet connected from deep in his return to the floor as the Houston Rockets built a 65-38 cushion over the Dallas Mavericks with the game in progress.

Why it matters: VanVleet's return restores veteran point guard playmaking to the Houston lineup while the Rockets set the early pace against a division opponent.

What to watch: Play continues in Houston as the Mavericks look to cut into the Rockets' advantage.