MACAO — The Dallas Mavericks are resting Morez Johnson Jr. on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, two days after the rookie started at center in his NBA debut. Mavericks coach Dusty May announced the move at the start of his pregame availability at The Venetian Arena.
Four Mavericks are out. Johnson is listed for rest. Santi Aldama is out after right knee surgery, and Dereck Lively II is out after right foot surgery. Marcus Sasser remains out with left adductor soreness, the same listing that held him out Friday.
Three players came off Friday’s list. Kyrie Irving, out Friday for left knee rest, will play his first game since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. P.J. Washington Jr. is available after missing the opener with a left ankle sprain. Caleb Martin is also off the report after an illness kept him out of Friday’s 135-117 loss.
Morez Johnson Jr. Rests After Starting NBA Debut
Johnson had 4 points in 12:14 on Friday and hit a 3-pointer with 13.5 seconds left in the first quarter. He sat the entire third quarter. Dallas took him ninth overall in June, the same day it hired May, who coached him at Michigan.
Johnson started all 40 games for May’s national championship team in Ann Arbor. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3% from the field. On Friday, May started him at center next to Cooper Flagg and Zaccharie Risacher, with Daniel Gafford coming off the bench.
“Certainly we could see him play in multiple positions for us. His switchability allows that to happen,” May said. “And obviously, as our other bigs, and he expands their range and their playmaking ability, that will allow us to unlock numerous big, small lineups, big or small lineups.”
“And when you have versatile guys that can defend multiple positions, you have an opportunity to do those things,” May continued. “So Morez will be someone that we count on for a number of reasons throughout the season.”
Dusty May Gives Dereck Lively II Update
When Dallas announced Lively’s surgery in December, the team said he was expected to be available for the start of training camp. It was his second surgery on the right foot in roughly six months, following a July 2025 procedure to remove bone spurs. He has not played in either game in Macao.
“I’ll defer to the medical staff on that. I know this, he’s moving well,” May explained. “We see him regularly getting treatment, doing things on the court. There’s just a return to play protocol that everyone goes through. It’s a little bit unique, but he’s in good spirits.”
“He’s working every day, and whenever he’s back, he’s going to have a major impact on this team,” May continued.
Lively played in 7 games in 2025-26 and averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. His last game was Nov. 21, 2025, against the New Orleans Pelicans. Dallas took him 12th overall in 2023, and he has career averages of 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in 98 games.
Aldama has been limited in camp since a knee procedure in March. Sunday is the second straight game Sasser has missed with the adductor soreness. The Mavericks return home for preseason games Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 and open the regular season Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT in Houston.
