In the first game in front of home fans for Houston’s 2022 draft class of three first-round rookies, the Rockets play host to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night at Toyota Center. Both of the in-state, divisional rivals are in the relatively early stages of a youth movement and rebuilding project as they work to return to past glory.
For Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and TyTy Washington, Sunday will be their first opportunity to take the court in their new NBA home.
Neither team has released a projected lineup, since it’s the preseason opener for both. But veteran Eric Gordon appears likely to start around Houston’s four certain starters of Smith, Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Alperen Sengun, particularly with Jae’Sean Tate out due to a left ankle injury. At Saturday’s practice, head coach Stephen Silas suggested that Tate would play if it was the regular season.
Regardless of the fifth starter, expect head coach Stephen Silas to experiment with many options as he works to find the optimal rotation patterns before an Oct. 19 start to the regular season.
Here’s @HoustonRockets rookie @JabariSmithJr shooting 10-of-10 on corner 3s at today’s practice!
Jabari makes his Toyota Center debut tomorrow when the #Rockets host the Spurs at 6:00 p.m., and @SportsMT will have the call live on 790 AM pic.twitter.com/f5bjJHvfiG
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) October 1, 2022