Led by accomplished veterans like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen, the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers are clearly a better team than the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets.
But in a battle of talented second-year prospects — Rockets guard Jalen Green, and Cavs forward Evan Mobley — Houston’s 21-year-old would probably love to make a statement. Green and Mobley were the No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively, in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, and NBA analysts have debated whether the Rockets made the right call for nearly two years since.
For Mobley, who averages 16.3 points (55.2% FG) and 9.0 rebounds per game, it’s an opportunity to show the Rockets what they’re missing out on. To Green, averaging 21.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, it’s a chance to show the world why Houston believes in him.
The Rockets and Cavaliers only play each other twice per year, since Houston is in the Western Conference and Cleveland the Eastern Conference. Thus, Sunday’s matinee offers Green and Mobley a rare opportunity to be in the spotlight against each other.
For Houston, it starts a tough back-to-back on the road, with another game looming Monday at New York’s Madison Square Garden.