The Dallas Mavericks are now getting ready to play their first road game of the season. They’ll take on the Houston Rockets on Monday evening. The Mavericks need a win desperately. They would want to pull it off against a talented Houston squad, which is riding on a three-game back-to-back winning spree. But can Dallas finally turn off that snooze? Anthony Davis, one of its big stars, was expected to lead them this season. Now the question looms: will Anthony Davis play tonight?

Is Anthony Davis playing tonight against the Houston Rockets?

Unfortunately for the Dallas Mavericks, their star big man, Anthony Davis, will remain sidelined for a second straight game. Why? This injury update comes after he suffered a low-grade calf strain during last week’s contest against the Indiana Pacers.

The team confirmed Davis would not play in Monday night’s clash with the Houston Rockets. He had already missed the Mavericks’ recent loss to the Detroit Pistons. His absence comes at a difficult time for Dallas.

Davis’ name on the injury list compounds the Mavericks’ growing list of absentees. Now, Dallas will be forced to lean heavily on their frontcourt rotation. There is Daniel Gafford, along with rookie Cooper Flagg, and P.J. Washington. They are expected to share most of the workload.

The Mavs have had an uneven start to the season with a 2-4 record over six games. But Davis has been a steady presence in his first five games of the season. He was averaging 20.8 points per game, with 10.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets Injury Report for November 3

Dallas Mavericks Injury Update

Kyrie Irving will remain out since his ACL tore. The Mavericks will also miss Dereck Lively II  and Dante Exum for knee issues. Both of them have been ruled out for Monday’s matchup. With several rotation players sidelined.

Houston Rockets Injury Update

The Houston Rockets have their own list of injury concerns ahead of tonight’s game.

1. Jabari Smith Jr. is officially listed as questionable due to a sprained right ankle. It leaves his availability for the Mavericks game uncertain.
2. Dorian Finney-Smith has been ruled out with a knee injury.
3. Fred VanVleet continues to recover from a torn ACL. This may sideline him for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

Predicted starting fives for Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets (November 3)

With most of the mains sidelined, it is on the playmaking skills of D’Angelo Russell and the assistance of P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall. Their game, led by rookie Flagg, will decide the fate of Dallas.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have their balanced core featuring Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün.

Where to watch the Mavericks vs the Rockets game tonight

Houston is ready for a divisional showdown. The Dallas Mavericks will take on the Houston Rockets on Monday evening at the Toyota Center in Houston.

When: Monday, November 3, 2025, 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT.

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX.

TV/Streaming :

• Regional broadcast: Space City Home Network (SCHN) for local Houston viewers.
• Streaming: Available on Fubo TV, and for those out of market, via NBA League Pass (subject to blackout restrictions).

Match preview & what to expect

Dallas enters the game with a 2-4 record. Meanwhile, Houston holds a modest 3-2 mark. Recent history gives the Mavericks a slight edge, having won six of their last ten meetings versus the Rockets.

However, Houston presents a real threat. The Rockets are averaging nearly 128 points per game. With the game at home in Houston, the Rockets have the advantage of crowd energy.

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For Dallas, the absence of their key big man shifts the onus heavily onto wing scorers. If Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, and P.J. Washington can step up, Dallas may still stay in the fight.

Prediction: The Rockets do look slightly favored to come out on top. Expect a game where Houston tries to push the pace early.