Rockets Host Warriors in NBA Cup Quarterfinal Showdown
Vegas Dreams. Exorcise Time. Taste of the Future.
“It’s not another regular season game. Some of these guys have never played on TNT,” Houston’s Fred VanVleet said when asked about tonight’s upcoming NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup. Just another game? That’s what some players will tell themselves in situations comparable to these upcoming festivities at Toyota Center. But tonight’s game is different. On Wednesday night, the Rockets host the Golden State Warriors in the quarterfinals of The NBA Cup, with the winner punching a ticket to the semifinals in Las Vegas for a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight’s contest still counts as “just another game” in the standings, but this one means a little more to this young Rockets squad. A lot more. This is Houston’s biggest game in over four years. The Rockets haven’t played a match of this magnitude since losing to the Lakers in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. And it’s only fitting that Houston’s opponent for tonight’s huge contest is the Warriors: their nemesis for nearly the past half decade.
It’s been almost five years since the Rockets have beaten Steph Curry’s Dubs. The last time Houston downed Golden State, James Harden was still on the roster. To sum up this “rivalry”, the Rockets have lost fifteen straight games to the Warriors. It’s the longest losing streak against any single opponent in Houston’s franchise history. A long-enduring suffering that has to eventually come to an end. Will tonight be the night?
This season, the Rockets are 0-2 against the Dubs, with both losses coming against a Curry-less Warriors team. Tonight, Curry will be in the lineup. And he has a history of lighting up Toyota Center throughout his storied career. Curry is the ultimate Rocket-Killer. The face of Houston’s super-nemesis, these Golden State Warriors. And he’s caused more heartbreak in H-Town than any single opposing player in Rockets history. Houston needs their “A” game tonight, along with a little luck from the basketball gods, in order to prevent Curry from spoiling another night in Houston.
In good news, Tari Eason returns from concussion protocol after missing the last two games. Eason was instrumental in leading Houston’s comeback in the first meeting between these quads. And for this monumental game, the Terror Twins are reactivated and ready to go. And Fred VanVleet is back in the lineup after missing the previous game. However, Alperen Sengun is listed as questionable due to knee soreness. If Sengun can’t play, the Rockets are in trouble. Jalen Green has struggled mightily against Golden State throughout his career. The Warriors seem to currently have the Rockets and Jalen Green’s number. And Draymond Green is back in Golden State’s lineup after missing the last matchup between these Western foes.
Will Houston finally slay the dragon and exorcise the demons that have tormented this squad for half a decade? The Rockets should have a decent shot to win, but any time Steph Curry has been on the opposing side, it hasn’t turned out well for Houston, especially for the last four years running. Expect anything but a normal game tonight. This is the closest the Rockets will experience a playoff-like atmosphere until (and if) they make the postseason at regular season’s end. It’s a taste of the future for this Houston team who’s young core has yet to experience playoff basketball. And for tonight’s dish, Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green will ensure the proceedings turn dicey. The Rockets have yet to lose an NBA Cup game at home. And on Wednesday night, Houston has a chance to prove they’re legitimate in front of a nationally televised audience. With a trip to Vegas on the line, and the Rockets motivated to avoid a sour sixteenth straight loss to the Warriors… tonight’s matchup is not just another regular season game.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Golden State Warriors (14-9): White
Houston Rockets (16-8): Black
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
TV: TNT, Space City Home Network