Tag: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest

Thunder at Rockets: Live stream, how to watch, TV channel, start time

In a rematch of the seven-game playoff series from September, the Rockets and Thunder will open the 2020-21 regular season from Houston.

The Houston Rockets host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in the opening game of the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season for both teams. If you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The Rockets and Thunder last met in Game 7 in the first round of the 2020 Western Conference playoffs, which Houston won in a thriller to advance. Since then, however, the Thunder have moved into a rebuilding phase by trading veterans such as Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, and Steven Adams. Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari left in free agency.

Among numerous offseason changes, the Rockets have since swapped out two starters, going from Robert Covington and Russell Westbrook to Christian Wood and John Wall. They also have a new coaching staff, with Stephen Silas leading the way instead of Mike D’Antoni.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the third preseason game:

  • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 23
  • Time: 7 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV in Houston markets (watch for free)

The Rockets went 3-1 in the 2020-21 preseason, while the Thunder were 1-2. Both teams had identical 44-28 records last season, tied for No. 4 in the West. However, Oklahoma City has lower expectations entering the new NBA season based on their offseason moves.

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets

  • Guard: John Wall
  • Guard: James Harden
  • Forward: Danuel House Jr.
  • Forward: PJ Tucker
  • Center: Christian Wood

Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • Guard: Luguentz Dort
  • Forward: Justin Jackson
  • Forward: Darius Bazley
  • Center: Al Horford

The Rockets are one of a small number of NBA teams welcoming in-arena fans, with attendance of up to 4,500 expected at Toyota Center. Houston enters Wednesday’s game favored by 7.5 points.

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Interview: Cayleigh Griffin on her first season with the Rockets

Rockets courtside reporter Cayleigh Griffin joins the RocketsWire Extra podcast to discuss the highlights of her first year in Houston.

Cayleigh Griffin, courtside reporter for the Rockets on AT&T SportsNet Southwest broadcasts, joined the RocketsWire Extra podcast on Tuesday to break down her first season in Houston.

The network serves as Houston’s local TV partner for 70 NBA games in the regular season and through the first round of the postseason.

In her role, Griffin works with play-by-play broadaster Bill Worrell and analyst Matt Bullard on home broadcasts, and with play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman and Bullard on road broadcasts.

Topics discussed on Tuesday’s podcast include Griffin’s insight on the team and its season to date; life in the era of social distancing; initiatives by her network to provide Rockets entertainment during the COVID-19 hiatus; and the unique enthusiasm she brings to her role.

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The episode also explores Griffin’s bond with Houston Astros field reporter Julia Morales, whom Griffin acknowledges as a key mentor.

Assuming Major League Baseball is able to start its 2020 season, Griffin will also take on occasional pregame and postgame hosting duties for Astros broadcasts (which largely occur during the NBA’s offseason).

Griffin came to AT&T SportsNet in Houston following stints at FOX Sports Southwest and FOX Sports Ohio, where she worked as reporter and host for both the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers.

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In contrast to national trend, Rockets see higher local TV ratings

Compared to last year, overall local and national TV ratings are down for the 2019-20 NBA season. However, they’re up for the Rockets.

Though television ratings around the NBA are largely down in the 2019-20 season to date, they’re up for local telecasts in Houston.

According to data through the All-Star break compiled by the Sports Business Journal (SBJ), the average rating (2.26) of Rockets’ broadcasts on AT&T SportsNet Southwest is up 4% from the same 2018-19 period.

Last year’s Rockets were coming off more success in the previous season, having won a franchise-record 65 games in 2017-18 and advanced to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. By comparison, these Rockets are coming off a 2018-19 campaign with just 53 wins and an elimination in six games during the second round of the playoffs.

Nonetheless, the offseason trade for Russell Westbrook seems to have sparked additional relative interest, especially on a local level. While ratings for Rockets’ telecasts are up by 4%, the league’s overall average on local broadcasts is down 13% from last season.

The SBJ analysis studied 27 of the league’s 30 teams, with data on Utah, Memphis, and Toronto not available. Of those 27, a majority posted ratings drops, and 13 had declines of 19 percentage points or more.

Nationally, television broadcasts of NBA games on ABC, ESPN, and TNT are down 12% this season. According to SBJ’s figures, ABC is down 16%, TNT down 13%, and ESPN down 10%.

Part of the decline in national TV numbers is attributable to Golden State, which has the league’s worst record this season but has still received a healthy share of national broadcasts based on their pedigree as five-time defending Western Conference champions. Per SBJ data, ratings for local Warriors broadcasts are down 66% from a year ago.

The Rockets (34-20) return to play Thursday with a road game against those Warriors (12-43), with tip-off scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central time in an exclusive national TNT broadcast. Given their record, that game probably won’t help the league’s ratings decline on a national level.

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