With the NBA’s complete schedule now released for the upcoming 2021-22 regular season, we now know the game dates, times, and opponents for all 82 matchups involving the Houston Rockets.
Barring an unexpected disruption, it will be the first time since 2018-19 for the Rockets to complete a normal schedule of 82 games, home and away, with fans at full capacity. Both of the last two years were shortened to 72 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and each had significant fan restrictions for a sizable portion of the regular season.
The Rockets, of course, will look quite different than the last time they played in front of a packed house at Toyota Center. The James Harden era is now over, and a youth movement is well underway with headliners including Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood, Jae’Sean Tate, KJ Martin, and a rookie class led by Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
Green, who was picked No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, is seen by many around the league as a future superstar and an immediate box office attraction. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the most high-profile matchups for his rookie season.