The Rockets own the NBA’s worst record. The San Antonio Spurs are only slightly better. In a pair of weekend matchups that could prove pivotal in the race for 2023 NBA draft positioning, these two Western Conference cellar dwellers meet in back-to-back games, with the second coming Sunday night at Houston’s Toyota Center.
In Saturday’s opening matchup in San Antonio, Houston moved a game closer in the standings thanks to a convincing 122-110 win, which ended an 11-game losing streak for the Rockets. Rookie forward Tari Eason tied his career high with 20 points on strong efficiency, and he added a number of key defensive plays, as well.
But the Spurs may be healthier for the rematch. Both Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, San Antonio’s leading scorers, were held out on Saturday with minor injuries, but each could be available a day later.
In addition to Eason playing well, the Rockets also had an uncharacteristically strong shooting game from fellow rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%). They’d love for that to continue in Houston as they pursue a weekend sweep.