What happened: The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are tied at 66 in the second half of the 2026 NBA China Games. Amen Thompson secured an offensive rebound that led to a late first-half tip-in by Jabari Smith Jr.

Why it matters: The exhibition in Macao provides an evaluation opportunity as the Rockets prepare for the regular season. Houston entered the contest with a 9-5 exhibition record and is integrating Thompson following his September extension.

What to watch: Houston will continue its rotation evaluations throughout the second half.