Rockets at Pistons: Saturday’s stream, lineups, injury reports and broadcast info

In one of the earliest start times in recent team history, the Rockets will visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday for a matchup that tips off at noon local time, or 11 a.m. CST. It’s the start of a season-long road trip of five games for Houston (9-20), which enters with a number of injuries throughout the roster and losses in four of its last five games.

The good news is that on paper, Detroit (4-23) gives the Rockets an opportunity to break out of the recent funk. The Pistons have the NBA’s worst record and enter with 13 consecutive defeats.

One of those four Detroit wins, however, came against the Rockets on Nov. 10 in Houston. That game was billed as a showdown between rookies Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick from the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, and Jalen Green, the No. 2 selection. While Green was Houston’s leading scorer in that game, Saturday won’t be a rematch — since Green remains sidelined with a left hamstring strain.

But even with Green out, the Rockets have generally improved their play since that first meeting, as evidenced by the seven-game winning streak earlier this month. Moreover, they expect to have star center Christian Wood back in the lineup after missing two games with left knee tendinitis. For Wood, it will be his first time to play in Detroit since leaving the Pistons to sign with the Rockets following the 2019-20 season.

Here’s when and how to watch Saturday’s matinee:

Date: Saturday, Dec. 18
Time: 11:00 a.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 (9-20)

Guard: Eric Gordon
Guard: Garrison Mathews
Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
Forward: Christian Wood
Center: Daniel Theis

Detroit Pistons (4-23)

Guard: Killian Hayes
Guard: Cade Cunningham
Forward: Hamidou Diallo
Forward: Saddiq Bey
Center: Isaiah Stewart

Projected lineups are from each team’s official game notes.

The Pistons are much more injured than they were in their Nov. 10 victory at Houston, since Jerami Grant — who scored a game-high 35 points at Toyota Center — is out for some time with a right thumb sprain. Former Rockets big man Kelly Olynyk is also out with a left knee sprain.

By comparison, Houston has more injuries in volume. The updated list for Saturday shows Green, Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh contusion), and Danuel House Jr. (left ankle sprain) as out, while Wood and Armoni Brooks (left ankle soreness) are listed as questionable. However, head coach Stephen Silas said Thursday that Wood is expected to play.

This post originally appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!