Rockets Seeking Second Home Win, Host Warriors
Championship Hangover. Needing Scoot and Sengun. Nothing to Lose.
Houston plays host to the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. The Rockets are coming off a collapse Friday night at the hands of the Pacers to begin this current four-game home-stand. Steph Curry and co. are off to a slow start to the season, even still searching for their first road win. The Warriors are 7-9 on the year, including 0-8 on the road. Houston will look to extend that streak to nine with a victory over the Dubs tonight. The bad news is, Golden State is starting to heat up. After a five-game losing streak, the Warriors have won three of their last five games, but still have yet to get that elusive first road victory. Golden State will be entering Toyota Center confident, and hungry, for their first win away from the bay all season. If the Rockets aren’t focused and locked in from the opening tip, Houston could be in trouble tonight.
More bad news comes in the form of Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun’s status for the game, they’re both listed as questionable for Sunday’s battle. Sengun was a late-addition to the injury report with groin soreness, while KPJ missed Houston’s loss on Friday night. Scoot’s absence was sorely felt, and if Porter Jr. can’t suit up on Sunday, the Rockets are in big trouble against a back-court dominant Warriors team. Besides Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, Houston will have to contain the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, along with the usual pesky Draymond Green, who always seems to have a big game against the Rockets. Hopefully that’s not the case tonight for a Houston team desperately seeking its second home win of the season.
Regardless of who ends up suiting up for the Rockets, the squad has to leave it all on the floor tonight against the Dubs. After tonight’s tilt, Houston has the next four days off, which is something very rare in the schedule. Besides, the All-Star break, the squad’s largest break last season was three days off. Two off days in a row is rare, three is hardly seen, and four seemed non-existent, but it’s hear on the schedule after this matchup. The Rockets needs to play with the physicality we witnessed in Dallas that led to 19 blocked shots for the Rockets, and an impressive victory, if they want the same result tonight against a Golden State team who’s desperate to notch their first road win of the year. Houston has to literally play with blood, sweat, and tears… leave everything out there on the hardwood tonight, as they have plenty of time to rest their wounds after this battle. The Rockets need to play under control, but with nothing to lose. Four days of rest await the squad after Sunday’s tilt. Houston’s next game after tonight is back at Toyota Center on Friday to host Trae Young and the Hawks.
The Rockets have to hope Sengun and Scoot suit up tonight, but even if they don’t, Houston has a plethora of guys they can call on to step up and provide useful, effective minutes. The question is, are they up for the task? If the Rockets don’t play with a sense-of-urgency from the opening tip, they’re in trouble tonight. Expect a close game Houston can win if the Rockets are locked-in and ready to play with desperation. If Houston’s more focused on their upcoming four-day mini-break, and Golden State’s current 0-8 road record… expect the defending champs to do what they did frequently during their title run last year, and deal another opponent a home loss. Hopefully the Rockets are ready to go, and determined to continue the Warriors’ road woes tonight.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Golden State Warriors (7-9): Blue
Houston Rockets (3-13): “Hardwood Classics” White
Tip-Off: 6:00 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass