Mavericks, Rockets Set for Two Preseason Games in Macao
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The NBA will return to Macao next fall when the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets meet for a pair of preseason contests at The Venetian Arena on October 9 and 11, the league and Sands China Ltd. announced Monday.
The matchups are part of the NBA China Games series, which brought the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns to the same venue three months ago. “The games in Macao earlier this season showed how much passion and enthusiasm there is for the NBA among fans in China and across Asia,” deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said in the release.
Alongside the games, the NBA and Sands plan several fan-focused events, including NBA House, NBA Fan Day, youth clinics, and a Community Impact Week hosted by NBA Cares and Sands Cares that will emphasize health, wellness, and sustainability initiatives.
Broadcasts and digital coverage are expected to reach more than 200 countries and territories. Event marketing partners will include Amazon Web Services, Gatorade, Nike, and Tissot.
Texas Rivals Return to the Global Stage
Dallas and Houston have been regular participants in the league’s international schedule since facing each other in Mexico City in 1992. Speculation about their Macao appearance intensified after Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont attended the Nets-Suns games in October, sitting courtside with former Rockets star and Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming.
“For the Mavericks, this is a meaningful opportunity to represent our organization and our fans on an international stage,” Dumont said, noting the club’s recent trip to Mexico City. He also played a key role in rebuilding ties between the NBA and China after a 2019 dispute stemming from then-Rockets executive Daryl Morey’s social media post supporting Hong Kong protesters.
Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta called his franchise “an iconic brand with support around the globe,” adding that the team has enjoyed “overwhelming love” from Chinese fans since drafting Yao first overall in 2002.
The two preseason games will reunite Southwest Division rivals while extending the NBA’s presence in the Greater Bay Area, underscoring the league’s strategy of pairing on-court competition with community engagement.
Source: Hoops Rumors
