Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall selection in the 2024 NBA draft and recently transferred from the Atlanta Hawks, made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks during a pre-season game against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China. The Mavericks won the game 135-117, showcasing strong team performance despite missing several key players. Risacher started alongside fellow newcomers Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, and Morez Johnson. His performance was uneven: he struggled in the first quarter, scoring just 2 points on 1/5 shooting while grabbing 7 rebounds. However, he found his rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 7 points and contributing defensively. In total, he finished with 9 points on 4/9 shooting, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist in 24 minutes of play. The Mavericks were without Kyrie Irving, Santi Aldama, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively, all of whom are expected to be key contributors to the team. On the other side, Houston was led by Kevin Durant, who scored 15 points, and Alperen Sengun, who delivered an impressive triple-double in just 22 minutes. Sengun recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, helping Houston build a 20-point halftime lead (65-45). The two Texas-based teams are set to face each other again on Sunday in Macao, continuing their pre-season matchup. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how Risacher and other rookies perform as the season approaches.