Rockets Return Home, Host Thunder in Home Opener
Homecoming. Building Block. Another Opportunity.
The Rockets return to Houston to host the Oklahoma City Thunder in the squad’s home opener on Friday night. Both OKC and the Rockets lost their first games of the season. And the Thunder are one of the few teams Houston has a chance at beating this season, even in their first home game. The Rockets’ youth was on full display in Wednesday’s loss in Minnesota. Chemistry will come for Houston with time, but they need to use each game as a building block to improve on coming together as a unit.
OKC is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a rising star in this league who runs the show for the Thunder at point, and led his team with 18 points in their opener. It will be another perimeter test for the Rockets, as SGA, Darius Bazley, and Lu Dort will give Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green quite the test.
Don’t be surpised if the Rockets remain rusty tonight, great chemistry isn’t built overnight. However, the squad should be better than Wednesday. They’ll be playing in front of a packed house for the first time in over a year. Fans will be pumped up for opening night, encouraging the squad as they continue to embrace the beginning of this new era. At the very least, Houston has the crowd on their side tonight… and there’s no place like home.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1): Blue
Houston Rockets (0-1): Red
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass