As both teams resume play after the 2023 All-Star break, the young and struggling Houston Rockets visit the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco.
The Rockets enter with seven straight losses. However, in the third season of a three-year franchise rebuilding plan, their lowly record isn’t all that shocking. Golden State, on the other hand, is probably more disappointed with its record relative to expectations — although injuries to stars like Steph Curry have certainly played a role.
So, can the defending champions get back on track as they enter the closing stretch of the 2022-23 regular season? The Warriors are currently stuck in the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference standings, meaning they’re closer to missing the play-in tournament altogether than they are a firm berth (top six) in the 2023 playoffs.
Even without Curry, Friday is a great opportunity for Golden State to get right, since the Rockets will be missing Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. With both starting guards out, rookie TyTy Washington could be next in line to receive the first start of his NBA career.
- Date: Friday, Feb. 24
- Time: 9 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Houston Rockets (13-45)
- Guard: TyTy Washington
- Guard: Jae’Sean Tate
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Golden State Warriors (29-30)
- Guard: Donte DiVincenzo
- Guard: Jordan Poole
- Forward: Klay Thompson
- Forward: Jonathan Kuminga
- Center: Draymond Green
Projected lineups are based on each team’s prior game — or second half, in Houston’s case, since Washington started over Green after his early departure in the second quarter at Oklahoma City.
Houston’s injury report lists Kevin Porter Jr. as out with a left foot contusion, which has now cost him six weeks and counting of game action. Jalen Green (left groin strain) is out, as well.
Golden State is on night two of a back-to-back after facing the Lakers late Thursday, so they aren’t required to issue an official report until a few hours before tipoff. Against Los Angeles, the Warriors were without Steph Curry (lower leg sprain), Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness), Gary Payton II (right adductor soreness), Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons), and Ryan Rollins (right foot surgery).
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