With four wins in their last seven games, Jalen Green and the young Houston Rockets finally have some momentum. On paper, they have an ideal opportunity to build on that in Thursday’s visit to San Antonio, where the rebuilding Spurs have lost 12 straight.
For the Rockets, who began the 2022-23 season with 15 road games in their first 23 outings, it’s their final road game before Christmas. Houston starts a season-long seven-game homestand on Sunday.
The bad news for the Rockets is that much of their relative progress has come at home inside Toyota Center, where they’re 4-5 this season and have won three straight. On the road, they’re 3-12 (.200), which is the second-worst clip among Western Conference teams.
The good news is Gregg Popovich’s Spurs are only 3-10 (.231) at home, which represents the fewest home wins and worst home-court winning percentage of any NBA team this season.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 8
- Time: 7:30 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 (7-17)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Eric Gordon
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
San Antonio Spurs (6-18)
- Guard: Tre Jones
- Guard: Josh Richardson
- Forward: Doug McDermott
- Forward: Keldon Johnson
- Center: Zach Collins
Projected lineups are based on each team’s latest game, with the exception of two changes for the Spurs (Richardson and McDermott for Vassell and Bates-Diop) due to new injury updates.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Jae’Sean Tate (sore right ankle) as out, while Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee soreness), Bruno Fernando (non-COVID illness), and Josh Christopher (left foot contusion) are questionable. Rookie guard TyTy Washington has returned to the team from Houston’s G League affiliate, so he could earn some point guard minutes if Porter is unavailable.
For the Spurs, Jakob Poeltl (right knee bone bruise), Keita Bates-Diop (left mid foot sprain), Jeremy Sochan (right quad contusion), and Blake Wesley (left MCL sprain) are listed as out. Devin Vassell (left knee soreness) is doubtful, while Josh Richardson (right ankle sprain), Doug McDermott (right ankle sprain) and Romeo Langford (lower back tightness) are probable.
