Rockets Host Thunder in Second Half of Weekend Back-to-Back
Part 2. Beating the Numbers. Incoming Silent Superstar.
Coming off their best victory of the season, a 128-122 comeback win over the Hawks on Friday night, the Rockets are back in action Saturday night, as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is the second of two straight home games for Houston after having a rare four consecutive days off over Thanksgiving. Luckily for the Rockets, the Thunder also played last night, garnering a tough overtime win over the Chicago Bulls at home. Both teams will be playing with tired legs, but this will be OKC’s third game in four nights, so Houston should have the rest advantage. Plus, they’ll be seeing the return of Alperen Sengun, who missed the previous game with a groin injury. Friday night’s win over Atlanta was the most exciting of this young season, and don’t expect the excitement to lower as the Rockets face arguably the league’s Most Improved Player, and budding superstar in Shai Gilegeous-Alexander.
SGA is in his fifth season, fourth with OKC, and this year he’s taken the clear jump from All-Star to Superstar. If the Thunder (8-11) were a winning team, the Kentucky product would be the clear front-runner for MVP. Oklahoma City is not much of a team without SGA. They’ve already gotten off to a better start than most expected, due to SGA’s MVP-caliber play and clutch-shot making. You haven’t heard his name among the likes of Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Giannis, and other bonafide superstars in this league. But you will soon enough. SGA’s not even a quarter into the midst of a true breakout-superstar season. His popularity will increase as the year moves along. If the Rockets want any chance tonight, they have to hope Shai is having on off-night, otherwise Houston could be in trouble, as they’re facing arguably the most lethal perimeter driver in the league.
All the odds are stacked against Houston tonight. Besides being the literal underdog, the Rockets haven’t won consecutive games all season, and are faced with that challenge once again tonight as they battle the Thunder. There is good news, Alperen Sengun, who missed last night’s thriller, is making his return to the lineup. And OKC is no juggernaut. Houston is more than capable of beating the Thunder tonight. Both teams are coming off hard-fought wins last night, but OKC had to travel from Oklahoma to Houston. The Rockets didn’t travel other than to their own beds. Plus the squad is playing with momentum after their fiery comeback win over Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and the Hawks last night. Houston withstood a combined 83 points from Atlanta’s potent duo last night. Can they contain the NBA’s silent superstar, and win consecutive games for the first time all season? It should be an exciting affair on Saturday night. Expect a close game that could go either way, hopefully the Rockets have some of that clutch magic in store from last night’s comeback win… they’ll need some more tonight if they want to best the Thunder.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Oklahoma City Thunder (8-11): Orange
Houston Rockets (4-14): Black
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: NBA TV, AT&T Sportsnet SW