Houston Rockets' Tari Eason ejected in first quarter of season opener against Dallas Mavericks

Tari Eason lasted just three minutes in the opener for the Houston Rockets’ 2026‑27 season.

The Rockets’ forward shoved the Dallas Mavericks’ P.J. Washington in the back and sent him sliding across the court late in the first quarter Wednesday at Toyota Center. Washington immediately leapt to his feet and started charging toward Eason, but the players never came into close range.

Initially, Eason was called for a common foul, but after a review, a Flagrant 2 was awarded, resulting in an automatic ejection. Earlier in the same possession, Washington had given Eason a slight shove under the basket while competing for a rebound.

Eason, who signed a five‑year, $81 million contract in July, made his first appearance as a substitute – alongside Marcus Smart – and played for just three minutes. In that stint, he recorded two points on 1‑for‑2 shooting and secured a board.

It marked Eason’s fourth ejection of his five‑year career and his fifth flagrant foul of the year.

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