The good news for the Rockets, who have suddenly lost three straight games and six of eight, is that 12 of Houston’s next 17 matchups will be played within the friendly home confines of Toyota Center.
The bad news is that it starts Wednesday night with a difficult matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently own the No. 2 overall record in the Western Conference standings.
Both the Thunder (Chet Holmgren) and Rockets (Jabari Smith Jr.) are led by top-three overall selections from the first round of the 2022 draft. This is their first head-to-head meeting in a regular-season NBA game, since Holmgren missed all of last season with an injury.
Holmgren, who is still considered a rookie because of that absence, has been impressive — as evidenced by the Rookie of the Month award he collected Monday for his work in October and November.
The BEST OF October/November Western Conference #KiaROTM Chet Holmgren!@Kia pic.twitter.com/Us5CuJUpSX
— NBA (@NBA) December 4, 2023
When and How to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, Dec. 6
- Time: 7:00 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 (8-9)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Oklahoma City Thunder (13-6)
- Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Guard: Josh Giddey
- Forward: Luguentz Dort
- Forward: Jalen Williams
- Center: Chet Holmgren
Injury reports
The Dec. 6 injury report issued by the Rockets lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out and Jock Landale (illness) as questionable. Young prospects Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Nate Hinton, and Jermaine Samuels Jr. are all currently away from the NBA team while playing for Houston’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
The Thunder have no listed injuries or illnesses, though Ousmane Dieng, Keyontae Johnson, and Lindy Waters III are with Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate. Thus, they are not with the Thunder.
Dec. 6 uniform choices
- Rockets: White City Edition
- Thunder: Blue Icon Edition
