Eight days ago in Boston, Houston’s Ime Udoka coached against his former NBA team for the first time. It didn’t go well for the Rockets.
There will not be as much fanfare when the Celtics pay a return visit, since Toyota Center isn’t the scene where Udoka once led a team to the NBA Finals before ultimately losing his job in scandal.
However, it is a major opportunity for Udoka’s new-look Rockets to be on the big stage versus a truly elite opponent. And while Houston is again on the second night of a back-to-back, this one features both games at home, which means no long hours of travel in between.
On Saturday’s front end, the Rockets had to exert significant effort in a thrilling one-point victory over the Utah Jazz. Jabari Smith Jr. left in the waning moments of overtime with a sprained left ankle, which could put his status for Sunday into doubt.