NBA China Games 2026: Mavericks and Rockets Head to Macao

The NBA returns to Asia this week. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play two preseason games at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Friday, 9 October and Sunday, 11 October as part of the NBA China Games 2026, a three-day basketball weekend built around fan events, youth clinics and community programmes.

For fans in Malaysia, the timing is ideal. Macao runs on China Standard Time, which is the same as Malaysia time, so these are the rare NBA games that tip off in the evening rather than before dawn. According to the official ticketing announcement, the first game begins at 7:30pm on 9 October and the second at 5:30pm on 11 October.

The schedule at a glance

• Game 1: Mavericks vs Rockets, Friday 9 October, 7:30pm local time (7:30pm in Malaysia).
• NBA Fan Day: Saturday 10 October, 3:30pm at The Venetian Arena (ticketed).
• Game 2: Mavericks vs Rockets, Sunday 11 October, 5:30pm local time (5:30pm in Malaysia).
• NBA House Macao: 7 to 11 October at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao.
• Broadcast: games reach audiences in more than 200 countries and territories, according to NBA.com.

The games are a joint venture between the NBA and Sands China. NBA.com reported that the weekend will include NBA House, fan days, youth basketball clinics and NBA Cares community programming focused on health, wellness and sustainability.

The players on show

Both rosters are headlined by recognisable names. Organisers have promoted the Mavericks’ nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and 2026 No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. The Rockets feature two-time champion and 16-time All-Star Kevin Durant, two-time All-Star Alperen Sengun and 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team member Amen Thompson.

Preseason games are, by nature, a time for experimentation. Coaches use them to test rotations and give minutes to younger players, and established stars often play limited minutes. Fans should expect a mix of familiar faces and newcomers competing for roles, rather than a full-intensity contest.

Flagg is likely to be the main attraction for many younger supporters. His rookie season brought him the league’s top first-year award, and his all-round game has made him one of the faces of the NBA’s next generation.

Why the Rockets and China connect

The choice of the Rockets is no accident. Houston’s popularity in China dates back to Yao Ming, the Hall of Famer whom the team drafted first overall in 2002. “Since drafting Hall of Famer Yao Ming first overall in 2002, we have received overwhelming love from the passionate basketball fans of China,” Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said, according to NBA.com.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum pointed to previous success. “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,” he said when the games were announced. Macao has quickly established itself as a regular stop for the league’s international preseason programme.

NBA House and the fan experience

The off-court programme is extensive. According to World Casino Directory’s report on 22 September, NBA House Macao runs for five days at the Cotai Expo, with an interactive shooting experience on a smart digital LED court, merchandise, trophy photo opportunities and more than 1,500 square metres of food blending local and Texas cuisine.

• NBA legends scheduled to appear: Ray Allen, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Jeremy Lin, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Cuttino Mobley, Mitch Richmond, Luis Scola and P.J. Tucker.
• Chinese player Ding Yanyuhang will join the legends line-up.
• Halftime entertainment from the group KiiiKiii, according to the ticketing release.
• Fan Day performances from Hong Kong singer-actor Keung To and K-pop artist EVAN, hosted by MC Jin.

The presence of Jeremy Lin is notable for audiences across Southeast Asia, where his NBA career inspired many young players. Bosh and Allen, both champions, add star power, and the combination of basketball and music reflects the league’s efforts to present its international games as full entertainment events.

Tickets and travel

Tickets went on sale on 12 August through Cotai Ticketing, Taobao 88VIP, Trip.com and MPay. Prices for the preseason games start at MOP/HKD 588, while Fan Day tickets range from MOP/HKD 488 to MOP/HKD 4,988, according to the ticketing announcement and World Casino Directory.

Macao is a relatively short flight from Kuala Lumpur, so the weekend is one of the more accessible opportunities for Malaysian fans to watch NBA players in person. Anyone travelling should check availability and entry requirements in advance, as popular sessions can sell out.

What to watch

With the regular season beginning on 20 October, these games come at an important point in both teams’ preparations. Watch how the Mavericks use Flagg alongside their veterans, and how the Rockets balance Durant’s scoring with Sengun’s playmaking. Rotation patterns in preseason can offer early clues about coaches’ plans.

Also look for the younger players on the fringes of each roster. Preseason in a showcase setting often gives prospects a chance to impress, and a strong showing in Macao could earn someone a larger role in October.

For viewers at home, the early-evening tip-offs change the experience. Most NBA games reach Malaysian audiences between 7am and 11am, which means many fans follow highlights rather than live action. A Friday-night game and a Sunday-afternoon game in the same time zone offer a rare chance to watch full broadcasts at a sociable hour, with friends or family.

The weekend also has value for the local basketball community. Youth clinics and community programmes put young players in touch with coaches and former professionals, and events of this scale can inspire participation long after the teams have flown home. The NBA has repeatedly returned to the region because it sees Asia as one of its most important growth markets.

It is worth remembering that preseason results carry little weight. Nothing that happens in Macao counts towards the standings, and neither team will judge its preparations on the scoreboard alone. What matters is fitness, rhythm and the chance for new combinations to be tested before the games begin to count.

Above all, the NBA China Games are a celebration of the sport’s popularity in the region. For fans in Malaysia and across Asia, they offer a rare chance to watch NBA teams in their own time zone, and a reminder of how far the league’s reach now extends.