Rockets Return to H-Town, Host Warriors in Home Opener
Homecoming. Fading Away. Motivated Focus.
After two tough losses to begin the season, the Rockets return to Toyota Center to host the Golden State Warriors in their home opener on Sunday night. Houston is looking for their first win in this young season, and faces their toughest test so face in an experienced Golden State team that has Championship-mettle at its core. The Warriors may not be the superteam they were at the height of their dynasty, but they’re still a better squad than most NBA teams. And Stephen Curry is still one of the league’s best players. Curry is coming off a 41-point night in the Warriors previous game, a road win over the Kings to give them their first victory of the season. Besides Curry, his Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, seems to have some his best games against Houston. Thompson isn’t producing at the level he was before his injury a few years ago, but Klay can still put up 30 or 40 points on any given night. The Warriors also have a new piece that may be familiar to Rockets fans. Former Houston point guard, and NBA veteran Chris Paul, joined Golden State in the offseason. Houston’s facing an experienced trio on the perimeter tonight. The Rockets will need to focus on their free throw shooting, rebounding, and controlling turnovers, if they want to pull the upset on the Warriors in their home opener.
Toyota Center should be rocking on Sunday night, as Houston plays the first of what will be a seven-game home stand. Houston wants to avoid fading away, and falling to 0-3 in the standings with a loss tonight. Missed free throws really damaged the Rockets chances at victory in their previous loss, a tightly contested contest in San Antonio. Hopefully the home crowd motivates the squad to focus better on their free throws, and overall execution.
Rockets vs. Warriors ins’t the rivalry it was when James Harden was at his peak in Houston, but tonight’s contest should still be tightly contested. Expect the Rockets to come out hungry for their first victory. Golden State may overlook this Houston team, as they travel to face Zion Williamson and the undefeated New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow night in the Big Easy. The Rockets have a decent chance to secure their first win of the Ime Udoka era, as long as they don’t beat themselves. This means keeping missed free throws and turnovers to a minimum. If the squad can do that, and shoot the ball with the efficiency they showed in San Antonio, Houston should be able to win their home opener. Regardless of the outcome, expect an entertaining contest, as the Rockets face a fading, but still star-studded, Warriors squad tonight.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Golden State Warriors (1-1): Blue
Houston Rockets (0-2): Red
Tip-Off: 6:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass