In the first back-to-back sequence of games for the Rockets in the young 2022-23 regular season, Houston has a tough road matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
Saturday’s tipoff is less than 24 hours removed from when the Rockets played in Houston on Friday night (a competitive 129-122 loss to Memphis). Meanwhile, the Bucks haven’t played since Thursday and won’t play again until next Wednesday.
In addition to the obvious advantages of additional rest and home court, the veteran-laden Bucks are led by perennial All-Star forward and MVP frontrunner Giannis Antetokounmpo. Thus, expect Milwaukee to try and dial up the intensity versus Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun, and the rest of a young Rockets group.
The Bucks are without Khris Middleton, who is expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season after offseason wrist surgery.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Friday, Oct. 21
- Time: 7:00 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (0-2)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Garrison Mathews
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Milwaukee Bucks (1-0)
- Guard: Jrue Holiday
- Guard: Jevon Carter
- Forward: Grayson Allen
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Brook Lopez
Both lineups are based on each team’s latest game notes, with Houston choosing to hold out Eric Gordon (rest) and Bruno Fernando (left knee soreness) on night two of a split back-to-back.
Injury reports
In addition to Gordon and Fernando, Houston’s latest injury report continues to list Jae’Sean Tate (left ankle soreness) and TyTy Washington (left knee sprain) as out, which they have been for the entirety of the 2022-23 regular season to this point. Milwaukee lists Khris Middleton (left wrist ligament surgery), Joe Ingles (left knee ACL surgery), and Pat Connaughton (right calf strain) as out.
