The Houston Rockets were very competitive in Wednesday’s opener of the 2022-23 regular season in Atlanta, but it wasn’t quite enough to get a road win. Could the backing of tens of thousands of home fans in Friday’s Toyota Center opener put them over the top?
That’s what we’ll find out when perennial All-Star guard Ja Morant leads his Memphis Grizzlies into town to face Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and the rest of a young Rockets group.
As usual, Memphis is viewed by most observers as a Western Conference contender, whereas the rebuilding Rockets are again projected to rank near the bottom. But when Green began breaking out late in his rookie season of 2021-22, one of his statement games — and perhaps the most impressive one for the Rockets as a team — came in a victory over Morant and the Grizzlies at home.
Can lightning strike twice? Stay tuned.