On the Dallas side, the problem is in the paint. Dereck Lively II hasn't played since November 21, 2025, after surgery on his right foot, and he sat out the whole preseason. Santi Aldama had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in March while he was still in Memphis, and he hasn't played this preseason either. Coach Dusty May said Aldama is "getting much, much closer." That's encouraging, but it doesn't put him on the floor Wednesday.
The list goes deeper than those 2. Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis) and Jett Howard (illness) also missed the Hawks exhibition. That means Dallas could be thin on the wing as well as up front. Every one of the 4 is listed day-to-day, so things could change before tipoff. But if Lively and Aldama both sit, Dallas has to deal with Adams on the glass using whoever is left. That's a rough way to start a season.
For Houston, the questions are about fit, not health. How quickly do VanVleet and the rest of the rotation find their rhythm again? And how hard does the staff actually stick to Durant's minutes once a game gets tight in the 4th quarter? Tipoff is 7:30 PM CT at Toyota Center. It's a Texas opener with a clear story either way: a Rockets team that's finally whole against a Mavericks team trying to hold on until its bigs return.