Rockets Visit D.C. to Face Wizards as Road Stretch Begins
Long Road Ahead. Worst of the Worst. No Excuses.
The Rockets begin a road heavy stretch in the schedule starting with a Tuesday night tilt with the Washington Wizards in D.C. Houston is coming off a win over the Lakers on Sunday night that closed a five-game homestand. The Wizards have the worst record in the entire NBA. Washington has lost six of their last seven games, and trudges into tonight’s matchup with a 6-27 record on the season. The Rockets won the first matchup between these squads, back in November at Toyota Center. Houston shouldn’t have much trouble tonight D.C., as long as they don’t overlook these lowly Wizards.
Houston is currently in second place in the competitive Western Conference, with Memphis breathing right down their backs in third place. And the Grizzlies happen to be the Rockets next opponent following tonight’s game. That contest will have a lot more juice, but not if Houston can’t take care of business in the nation’s capital on Tuesday night. Washington still has talented players like Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Jonas Valanciunas, among others.
Tari Eason is expected to miss his tenth straight game tonight due to lower leg injury management. Regardless, the Rockets have no excuses losing to this bad Wizards team, even on the road. Washington is an embarrassment of a basketball team, but they still have professionals who can win if they’re given a chance. Houston needs to build an early lead, and put this game away early so they can get a little extra rest for their next matchup, a much important one with the Grizzlies. In the Rockets’ last contest, a win over the Lakers, Amen Thompson returned from a two-game suspension to have the best game of his career.
Tonight’s game is the first in a road-heavy stretch of the schedule for Houston. The Rockets will play thirteen of their next seventeen games on the road, including six of their next seven contests. Look for the Rockets’ young squad to take care of business tonight. Besides the Opening Night loss to the Charlotte Hornets, and the loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at home, Houston has avoided any defeats to any of the league’s bottom-dwellers. And Washington has been near the bottom of the standings for years now. Expect Ime Udoka to have his troops ready to beat the Wizards, as the Rockets’ road journey begins on Tuesday night, with a battle in the nation’s capitol.
Capitol One Arena: Washington, D.C.
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (23-12): White
Washington Wizards (6-27): Blue
Tip-Off: 6:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass