Rockets Visit Sac-Town for National Duel with Kings
Bright Lights. Speed Racers. Sway Night.
On Thursday night, Houston gets the rare chance to shine, and entertain the masses, in front of a national audience. For only the second time this season, the Rockets will play on national TV, as the NBA’s hottest team cruises into Sac-Town to battle the Kings. Tonight’s game marks the second half of a back-to-back for Houston, as the Rockets are coming off a 128-108 blowout win over the Nuggets in Denver last night. In their last game, on Tuesday, Sacramento had their season-high seven game winning streak snapped by the Bucks in Milwaukee. Entering tonight’s matchup, Houston owns the league’s longest current win streak, winners of their last five games. None of that matters tonight. The Kings are playing in their house, and they have the rest advantage. Sacramento’s climbed back to .500 after a poor start, and this team is much improved since these teams squared off earlier this season.
In the first matchup between these Western foes, the Rockets lost to the Kings, 120-111, back on December 3rd in Sacramento. That game was also Houston’s lone NBA Cup Group loss this season. Tonight, the Rockets will be more undermanned than usual of late. Fred VanVleet has been ruled out for tonight’s contest due to personal reasons. Instead of doubtful, Tari Eason is listed as questionable for this game, which a good sign for Houston that he’s trending in the right direction. But until he actually plays once again on the court, don’t have faith in him seeing any action. So he likely will be out once again for tonight’s tilt, along with Jabari Smith Jr., who remains sidelined with a fractured hand injury. For now, the Rockets will need to maintain steady waters in a hostile environment without their floor leader. Houston’s win streak will be put to the test tonight, as the Rockets aren’t the same team without VanVleet.
Regardless of who’s on the court for Houston, Head Coach Ime Udoka always has his team prepared and ready to play hard. Prepare for a fast paced game tonight, as this matchup features three of the leagues fastest players in De’Aaron Fox, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson. The Rockets have only been blown out twice this season. On the road to the West’s top seed in the Thunder, and at home to the defending champion Celtics. These Kings aren’t on the level of those teams. And if Houston can keep their winning streak alive in Sacramento, they’ll begin to sway believers that this young squad isn’t just having a great first half of the season. This Rockets team is for real, Houstonians know. It’s time for the rest of the county to get a glimpse of this Houston squad, one the NBA’s most exciting and talented young teams. Expect a close game on TNT tonight, in what should be another drama filled, entertaining night of Rockets basketball.
Golden 1 Center: Sacramento, California
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (27-12): Red
Sacramento Kings (20-20): Black
Tip-Off: 9:00 PM CT
TV: TNT