In a showdown of longtime Texas rivals, Tuesday’s game between the Houston Rockets (44-25) and San Antonio Spurs (31-38) will be their third and final meeting of the extended 2019-20 NBA season.
The first two games came way back in December 2019, but both remain quite memorable (and for very different reasons).
On Dec. 3, the Rockets lost by two points in double overtime in a game remembered most for James Harden’s uncounted fourth-quarter dunk — which proved to be the eventual winning margin. Houston filed a postgame protest with the league, but it wasn’t upheld. Then, less than two weeks later on Dec. 16, the Rockets had their largest comeback in franchise history as they overcame a 25-point Spurs lead to win.
[lawrence-related id=19929,19124]
In August 2020 at the NBA “bubble” near Orlando, both teams look significantly different than they did in those earlier meetings.
With veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge out for the season with an injury, the Spurs have found success by increasingly relying on younger players. They still have well-known veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Marco Belinelli in the backcourt and Rudy Gay in the frontcourt, but prospects such as Lonnie Walker IV, Dejounte Murray, Jakob Poeltl, Drew Eubanks, and Keldon Johnson have all taken on larger roles of late.
Led by legendary head coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have won four of thise six games in Florida, and they enter Tuesday only a half-game out of the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference — which would earn a spot in a play-in tournament for the West’s eighth and final playoff seed.
With an offense featuring Popovich’s renowned ball movement and improved 3-point shooting, San Antonio ranks No. 6 in the NBA in net offensive rating over its last six games. That accounts for a big portion of their surprising success at Disney World and a late playoff push.
The Spurs are third in the NBA in three-point shooting since entering the bubble (41.7 percent).
Keldon Johnson (60%), Rudy Gay (45.8 %), Derrick White (45.2%), Patty Mills (42.9).Failing to matchup like this will kill the Pelicans today. pic.twitter.com/u2x5AdvDQ8
— Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) August 9, 2020
Then again, they’re facing a Houston squad that ranks fifth in the league in net defensive rating over its time at the bubble. The two prior Spurs-Rockets meetings came before Houston’s switch to a smaller lineup, which has made the Rockets more agile and versatile defensively. Since the season’s restart in late July, the Rockets are 4-1 in five games played.
[lawrence-related id=34337]
One potential advantage for the Spurs on Tuesday could be incentive. San Antonio needs to win to potentially earn a playoff spot, while the Rockets look increasingly destined for the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup in the West’s first round. That could be a part of the rationale for Houston’s decision to rest superstar guard James Harden.
Fellow All-Star guard Russell Westbrook, however, is expected to return to the lineup after a two-game injury absence.
[lawrence-related id=35980]
Reserve guard Ben McLemore started in Westbrook’s place the last two outings, so it seems likely that he will also start in place of Harden on Tuesday. McLemore has certainly taken advantage of his recent opportunities, scoring 20.0 points per game on 45.8% shooting from 3-point range in comfortable Houston wins over the Lakers and Kings.
The Spurs might also be limited in the backcourt, since rising star Derrick White is questionable with a left knee contusion.
Tuesday’s tip-off between the Texas rivals is set for 1:00 p.m. Central, with a national broadcast on NBA TV and regional telecast on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. It can also be streamed via NBA League Pass.
[lawrence-related id=36014]
Rockets defense is better than offense. That’s bad for other teams, wait until the offense firing on all levels https://t.co/aYsOzfEzNd
— Rezo de' Medici (@rezthagr8) August 10, 2020