Rockets roll past Mavs in opener, Southwest Division roundup

Rockets light up the scoreboard, Mavericks stumble

The Southwest Division opened with fireworks in Houston, where the Houston Rockets handled the Dallas Mavericks 135-117. Houston jumps out to a 1-0 start and an early share of the division lead, while Dallas falls to 0-1 after giving up a big number in its first outing. The Mavericks’ defense leaked points all night, something to monitor in a competitive division race.

Grizzlies grind out a win, manage Stewart setback

The Memphis Grizzlies kept their positive momentum going with a 104-100 road win over the Chicago Bulls. The tight, four-point victory lifts Memphis to 2-1 and puts the Grizzlies on top of the division in early wins. Memphis closed out a close contest down the stretch, doing just enough to protect a narrow advantage in the final minutes.

Off the court, Memphis is dealing with an early hit to its frontcourt depth. Big man Isaiah Stewart suffered a moderate left ankle sprain in the first quarter of a preseason game in Atlanta and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, according to Hoops Rumors. The team has already ruled him out for the remainder of the preseason schedule.

Pelicans trim the roster, Spurs tweak the lineup

The New Orleans Pelicans, sitting at 1-1, are already reshaping their center rotation. As reported by Hoops Rumors, the team is waiving center Christian Koloko, who was on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract. Koloko had logged four minutes for New Orleans in preseason action before the move, which opens a spot in camp as the Pelicans refine their depth chart.

In San Antonio, head coach Mitch Johnson had a different look in mind for the Spurs’ preseason opener against Atlanta, per Hoops Rumors. Dylan Harper was set to move into the starting lineup in place of Julian Champagnie, a clear sign the Spurs are quickly experimenting with new perimeter options. On top of that, CBS Sports’ latest defensive rankings project San Antonio as one of the league’s elite defenses, battling the Oklahoma City Thunder near the top of the list.

For Houston, Hoops Rumors notes that forward Rafael Castro, who inked a two-way deal with the Rockets in late August, has since signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after they waived William Kyle III. The Rockets have effectively moved on from that roster flier before the regular season tips off.

Finally, Hoops Rumors relays Sportico’s 2026 NBA franchise valuations, which once again have the Golden State Warriors at No. 1, ahead of the New York Knicks. All five Southwest Division clubs — the Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Spurs — are part of that financial picture, even if none are pushing the very top tier in overall value.