Rockets Head North to Battle Wolves in Season Opener
Green-Lighting a New Era. Early Test Inside. Familiar Pest, New Place.
“Great men are not born great, they grow great,” Don Corleone says in The Godfather. And as great as the potential is for these new look Rockets, they’ll only reach their ceiling with solid growth. Which begins tonight in Minnesota, as the Rockets open up their season on the road against the Timberwolves. It’s the first game of the Jalen Green-era for Houston, and the highly touted rookie’s first chance to demonstrate his skills in an NBA game. The Wolves finished with a subpar 23-49 record last year. And while Minnesota has their own growing pains, they also provide Houston with some obstacles in this opening match for both squads.
The biggest test for Christian Wood and the Rockets inside will be Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves’ center is one the best big men in the NBA, and can dominate the paint when he’s motivated. Daniel Theis will add assistance on defending towns, and Alperen Sengun may even get a look, depending on how coach Stephen Silas plays his rotation in the first game of the year.
On the perimeter, a familiar face awaits Houston’s backcourt: Patrick Beverly. The former Rocket, and most irritating pest in the NBA is now in Minnesota. As Rockets fans know, Beverly arguably is the hardest playing player in the league, and certainly one of the NBA’s best defenders. Tonight will be a great test for Houston’s new backcourt for the future: Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.
Expect tonight’s matchup to be a tight one in Minnesota. The Rockets are the more talented squad, but the Wolves have the experience edge. And this being the first NBA game for Jalen Green, it’s hard to know what to expect, but so far, Green has met every expectation thrown his way. He was born with great talent, but the real tests begin tonight in Minnesota for Green. If Jalen continues to grow into a great player, this season could be the start of a very special era in Rockets basketball.
Target Center: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (0-0): Red
Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0): Navy
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass