Rockets Ride into the Bay Area for Matchup with Warriors
Night and Day. Ready to Go. Draymond Mean.
After shocking the Suns with a 122-121 victory in Phoenix, the Rockets travel to the Bay Area to battle the NBA’s best home team, the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs are 10-1 at home while playing in the friendly confines of the Chase Center. On the road however, Golden State is only a dismal 2-10. The game’s location has truly been a night-and-day difference for how the Warriors have performed to begin the season. Golden State is playing better since their first matchup with Houston, back on November 20th. Since that contest, which saw Klay Thompson explode for 41 points, the Warriors are 4-2, and slowly climbing back up the Western Conference standings. Both teams are coming off a back-to-back, with the Warriors defeating the Chicago Bulls in the Bay Area last night. Which means, luckily for Houston, they won’t see Klay Thompson tonight, who rests on the second night of a back-to-back for Golden State, which has been their protocol all season.
Even though the Rockets won’t have to endure another 41-point outburst from Klay, the Warriors still have plenty of players to give Houston headaches on Saturday night. Stephen Curry is averaging 31 points a game. Andrew Wiggins is having another brilliant season with Golden State, as the Warriors have seemed to be a perfect fit for him after they acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jordan Poole will likely take on much of the offensive load in place of Klay Thompson tonight. As difficult the task, Houston has to contain Poole and Wiggins, and hope Curry doesn’t explode for a 40 or 50-point effort. Most importantly the Rockets can’t get off to a slow start. If Houston isn’t ready to go from the opening tip, they don’t have a chance against a veteran, experienced Warriors team. Last night’s comeback took a lot of energy and heart, and the squad will need that from the get-go to avoid playing from behind against the Dubs.
Expect the usual antics from Draymond Green, who’s been a pest to opponents since he entered the league. Houston is coming off their best win of the season, a complete team effort. Hopefully, they’re not too pleased with themselves, or they could be in trouble early in the Bay. The Rockets have to be the tougher and meaner team if they want to upset Golden State on Saturday night. Houston has to win the hustle battle, and can’t afford to allow the Warriors to get too hot from beyond the arc. Despite the odds, the Rockets weren’t expected to beat the Suns last night. Before Friday night’s Shocker in the Valley, the Suns were 12-1 playing in Phoenix. Houston will try and replicate what they did last night and upset one of the best home team’s in the league. It won’t be easy, but the Rockets handed the Suns only their second home loss of the season last night… they’ll try and do that again on Saturday night against the defending Champs.
Chase Center: San Francisco, California
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (6-16): Red
Golden State Warriors (12-11): Blue
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass