Houston has nothing like that hanging over it. The Rockets have no injuries listed, and they started their projected first 5 in the opener: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Sengun and Kevin Durant. What we don't know is how long Ime Udoka's starters play in a preseason game that tips at 5:00 AM CT. Once the regulars sit, a game like this turns into a look at the end of the bench.
The Dallas injury list is still the story. May said Lively is coming off December foot surgery and has no timeline to return, and Aldama could be rested as a precaution after a March knee procedure. Marcus Sasser (adductor) and Caleb Martin (illness) also missed Friday. That leaves Dallas thin at center against a Houston big man who just picked it apart from the high post. If Lively and Aldama sit again, Sengun gets the same open looks he had on Friday.
So you can watch Sunday for 2 things. One is Irving and Flagg sharing the floor for the first time, even if only for a few minutes. The other is whether a Dallas team with a real point guard back can keep Houston's starters from running away with it again. It's still preseason and the score doesn't count, but Dallas got embarrassed on Friday and will want a better showing in the rematch.