Entering December, the new-look Rockets (8-8) are one of the feel-good stories of the NBA’s 2023-24 season to date. After three years at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, Houston has quickly become competitive under new head coach Ime Udoka.
Yet, despite that better-than-expected overall record, Houston remains the only team in the league without a road win (0-7).
Some of that discrepancy is based on scheduling factors. Most of those losses were close games, and the last five featured opponents with at least one superstar player in the form of the Los Angeles Clippers with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Paul George; the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis; the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry; the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving; and the Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, that rough schedule isn’t evening out just yet, as Saturday’s game is a rematch against James, Davis, and the Lakers from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The previous meeting between the teams was a thriller, with Alperen Sengun and James trading key plays in the final 10 seconds during what ultimately finished as a one-point Los Angeles victory.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 2
- Time: 9:30 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (8-8)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Los Angeles Lakers (11-9)
- Guard: D’Angelo Russell
- Guard: Max Christie
- Forward: Taurean Prince
- Forward: LeBron James
- Center: Anthony Davis
Injury reports
Houston’s Dec. 2 injury report lists Amen Thompson (right ankle sprain) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out.
The Lakers will be without Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion).
Los Angeles is listing James (bruised left calf) as questionable, though he’s routinely played through that designation in recent games. Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip spasm), Jaxson Hayes (left elbow soreness), and Cam Reddish (right groin soreness) are all probable.
Dec. 2 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Lakers: White Association Edition
Practice updates
Some post practice five on five. You'll notice some Amen Thompson contact work. pic.twitter.com/L7OdfhcN3Z
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 1, 2023
Fred VanVleet, who was out Wednesday in Denver, back at Rockets practice pic.twitter.com/aM1njxHhrX
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 1, 2023
