Tag: Christian Wood

Kings at Rockets: Betting odds, point spread for New Year’s Eve

Despite Houston being 0-2 and Sacramento 3-1 so far this season, the Rockets will enter Thursday night’s game as slight favorites.

The Rockets host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night in Houston’s first home game of the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season. If you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck!

We have the latest point spread, moneyline odds, and over-under numbers from the Rockets versus Kings clash, as well as all the information you’ll need to make the smartest bets on BetMGM.

For the first time, the Rockets will be at close to full strength. While reserve guard Ben McLemore remains in self-isolation, all other rotation players who missed the initial two games due to a mandatory quarantine are cleared to play on New Year’s Eve. That includes starting point guard John Wall and key veteran reserves Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins.

Thursday’s tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central, with the New Year’s Eve game shown in Houston markets on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.

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Houston native De’Aaron Fox leads the Kings with averages of 20.3 points and 6.8 assists per game, which will present a challenge to Wall. Now healthy, the five-time All-Star guard said Wednesday that he expects to be a strong defender this season, and Fox will put that to the test.

Thursday will be Wall’s first regular-season NBA game in more than two calendar years, so he’s likely to be quite motivated.

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Fox and the young Kings (3-1) finished No. 12 in the Western Conference last season with a 31-41 record, well below No. 4 Houston. But they’ve been a revelation early this season, with two impressive wins over Denver (the West’s No. 3 team a year ago) and a third victory against Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and the rising Phoenix Suns. On ther other hand, the winless Rockets (0-2) might have a greater sense of urgency.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Rockets -4.5 (-115), Kings +4.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: Rockets -200/Kings +170
  • Over-under: 230.5 (-110)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: James Harden 30.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Christian Wood 20.5 (-105 O, -120 U); John Wall 19.5 (-115 O, -110 U); De’Aaron Fox 22.5 (-120 O, -105 U), Buddy Hield 20.5 (-115 O, -110 U); Marvin Bagley III 14.5 (-115 O, -105 U)

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

Wearing new blue uniforms with a customized court to match, the Rockets should be energized by the return of three key veterans (Wall, Gordon, and Cousins). Moreover, they could find a further boost from the home crowd of up to 4,500 fans at Toyota Center — a rare event in the NBA during the 2020-21 season and the pandemic. Houston is also the side likely to play with a higher sense of urgency, given the season’s slow start for the Rockets and the initial burst by the Kings. Thursday’s game could offer an opportunity for the new-look Rockets to finally launch.

Prediction: 121-112, Rockets

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Kings at Rockets: Lineups, how to watch, TV channel, start time (12/31)

In the first game of the regular season for John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Gordon, Houston hosts Sacramento on New Year’s Eve.

With Houston still searching for its first victory of the 2020-21 regular season, the newly blue Rockets (0-2) host the surprising Sacramento Kings (3-1) on Thursday night at Toyota Center. If you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

For the first time, the Rockets will be at close to full strength. While reserve guard Ben McLemore remains in self-isolation, all other rotation players who missed the initial two games due to a mandatory quarantine are cleared to play on New Year’s Eve. That includes starting point guard John Wall and key veteran reserves Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins.

Here’s when you should tune in to see Thursday’s game:

  • Date: Thursday, Dec. 31
  • Time: 6 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV in Houston markets (watch for free)

The Kings finished No. 12 in the Western Conference last season with a 31-41 record, well below No. 4 Houston (44-28). But they’ve been a revelation early in the 2020-21 season, with two impressive wins over Denver (the West’s No. 3 team a year ago) and a third victory against Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and the rising Phoenix Suns. On ther other hand, the winless Rockets may have a greater sense of urgency.

Houston native De’Aaron Fox leads the Kings with averages of 20.3 points and 6.8 assists per game, which will present a challenge to John Wall. Now healthy, the five-time All-Star guard said Wednesday that he expects to be a strong defender this season, and Fox will present an early test.

Thursday will be Wall’s first regular-season NBA game in more than two calendar years, so he’s likely to be quite motivated.

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Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets

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

Sacramento Kings

  • Guard: De’Aaron Fox
  • Guard: Buddy Hield
  • Forward: Harrison Barnes
  • Forward: Marvin Bagley III
  • Center: Richaun Holmes

Thursday’s matchup will be the first home game for the Rockets of the 2020-21 season, since the scheduled opener versus Oklahoma City on Dec. 23 was postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Houston is one of a limited amount of NBA markets welcoming in-arena fans to start the new season, with a crowd of up to 4,500 expected at Toyota Center.

The Rockets and Kings will then play a rematch on Saturday afternoon in Houston, as part of the NBA’s strategic plan to minimize travel this season during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Rockets open to playing DeMarcus Cousins, Christian Wood together

Only months removed from when the team played no centers, new Rockets coach Stephen Silas is open to potentially using two at the same time.

Only months removed from when the small-ball Rockets played no centers, new Houston head coach Stephen Silas says he is open to potentially using two at the same time.

Emerging big man Christian Wood was a revelation on offense during the recent road trip to Portland and Denver, averaging 27 points (55% FG) and eight rebounds per game. Yet, the athletic 25-year-old — who starts at center for the 2020-21 Rockets — struggled at times on defense versus bruising, physical bigs like Jusuf Nurkic of the Trail Blazers and Nikola Jokic with the Nuggets. Even so, Silas had little choice but to ride it out, since backup center DeMarcus Cousins was sidelined in quarantine and third-stringer Bruno Caboclo struggled mightily.

That dynamic could change starting Thursday against Sacramento, with Cousins now back with the team after clearing his quarantine. But as Silas sees things, it won’t necessarily be a debate of the athleticism and skill of Wood versus the power and physicality of Cousins. In certain matchups, the Rockets could use both bigs together, since Wood should be agile enough to handle minutes at the power forward spot.

When asked after Wednesday’s team practice whether he was open to playing Wood and Cousins together, Silas responded:

Yeah, I’m definitely open to it. To have DeMarcus, who can hold his own against those guys down low, then we don’t have to get into so many help situations, as we saw in the Denver game against Jokic. We had to help a lot, which opened up all of the things that he does well. He can really pass the ball, find cutters, and then offensive rebounds, because we’re out of position. To have Cousins out there will definitely help our post defense.

But then Christian has the ability as a stretch four — which, I guess all fours maybe are stretch, now. It used to be, there would be the Matt Bullards of the world who were stretch fours. [laughs] But C-Wood can definitely hold that role and play pick-and-roll, and make it hard on teams to guard.

Wood and Cousins were never simultaneously active in the preseason, with Cousins sitting out the fourth and final game for planned maintenance and Wood missing the first three with a sore elbow. Thus, Silas has yet to have both bigs activated at the same time, which — other than practice time — has prevented any Cousins-Wood experiments.

That changes Thursday night, when Houston will play its first home game of the regular season. Tipoff between the Rockets (0-2) and Kings (3-1) is set for 6:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center, with the game televised on AT&T SportsNet Southwest throughout usual Houston markets.

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Rockets reaction: Depth issues, defensive lapses costly versus Jokic, Nuggets

Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 18 assists, and 12 rebounds as the Nuggets picked apart the shorthanded Rockets in a commanding home victory.

For the undermanned Rockets, who are missing four expected rotation players due to COVID-19 issues, winning at Denver was always going to be a tall order. Led by a dominant showing of 19 points (73% FG), 18 assists, and 12 rebounds from All-Star center Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets routed Houston, 124-111 (box score) in the “Mile High City.”

James Harden led Houston with 34 points and eight assists in just 31 minutes, making 10-of-16 shots (62.5%) from the field. Meanwhile, center Christian Wood followed up 31 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s debut at Portland with 23 points (45% FG) and two blocks against the Nuggets. But they didn’t have nearly enough help on Monday night.

For a second straight game to open the 2020-21 regular season, the Rockets had only nine active players — just one above the NBA’s minimum requirement of eight to play a game. Facing a Denver squad led by Jokic and Jamal Murray and coming off a Western Conference Finals berth, it was a tough task for Houston — especially with a short rotation and on a second road game in three nights, and at high altitude. The Nuggets (1-2) were desperate for a win after unexpectedly losing their first two games of the  season, and it showed in their inspired play.

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The good news for the Rockets (0-2), from a wins and losses perspective, is that three of the four key absences (John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins) are expected back in time for Houston’s next game on Thursday. Ben McLemore, who reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, could take a few extra days. Reinforcements are on the way.

In the meantime, though, the Rockets are frustrated by their 0-2 start — especially given some of the early defensive issues. Here’s a sampling of the responses from Monday’s postgame interviews.

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Rockets stats: James Harden, Christian Wood fill up box score in loss at Denver

Harden had 34 points (63% FG) and eight assists for the shorthanded Rockets on Monday, while Wood scored 23 and blocked two shots.

For the undermanned Houston Rockets, who are currently missing four expected rotation players due to COVID-19 issues, winning at Denver was always going to be a tall order. However, All-Star guard James Harden and new center Christian Wood showed flashes of what could be a formidable pairing down the line, once the depth returns.

In Monday’s 124-111 loss (box score), perennial All-Star guard James Harden led the way with 34 points and eight assists in just 31 minutes, making 10-of-16 shots (62.5%) from the field. Meanwhile, Wood followed up 31 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s debut at Portland with 23 points (45% FG) and two blocks against the Nuggets.

For a second straight game to open the 2020-21 regular season, the Rockets had only nine active players — just one above the NBA’s minimum requirement of eight to play a game. Facing a Denver squad led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic and coming off a Western Conference Finals berth, it was a tough task for Houston — especially with a short rotation and on a second road game in three nights, and at high altitude.

The good news for the Rockets (0-2), from a wins and losses perspective, is that three of the four key absences (John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins) are expected back in time for Houston’s next game on Thursday. Ben McLemore, who reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, could take a few extra days. Reinforcements are on the way.

Until then, though, Houston fans can take some consolation in the big numbers from their top duo. See below for a compilation of highlights by Harden and Wood from Monday’s game.

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Rockets at Nuggets: Betting odds, point spread for Monday night

Denver (0-2) is favored by 6.5 points against the shorthanded Rockets (0-1), who will be playing their second road game in three nights.

The Rockets visit the Denver Nuggets on Monday night in the second game of the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season for Houston. If you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We have the latest point spread, moneyline odds, and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The Rockets remain very shorthanded, with six players again unavailable due to either positive tests for COVID-19 (Ben McLemore, KJ Martin Jr.) or from contact tracing after possible exposure (John Wall, Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins, Mason Jones). In all, Houston should have nine active players, just one above the minimum of eight needed to play.

Available players include guards James Harden, David Nwaba, Sterling Brown, and Brodric Thomas; forwards Danuel House Jr., PJ Tucker, and Jae’Sean Tate; and centers Christian Wood and Bruno Caboclo.

Monday’s tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Central, with the game shown in usual Houston markets on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. Led by rising young stars such as center Nikola Jokic, guard Jamal Murray, and forward Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets (0-2) are still seeking their first win of the 2020-21 regular season, as are the Rockets (0-1).

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Denver (46-27) and Houston (44-28) finished No. 3 and No. 4 in the Western Conference last year, so both teams expect to turn around their slow starts to the new season in short order. Of the three combined losses by the Nuggets and Rockets in recent days, two of them (Denver to Sacramento, and Houston to Portland) came in the final seconds.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Nuggets -6.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +220/Blazers -275
  • Over-under: 222.5 (-110)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: James Harden 32.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Christian Wood 22.5 (-125 O, +100 U); Nikola Jokic 22.5 (-120 O, -105 U), Jamal Murray 21.5 (-115 O, -105 U)

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The point spread is tricky. While the Rockets showed promising signs in their narrow overtime loss at Portland, they remain very shorthanded and will be playing in high altitude for their second road game in three nights. That could cause Houston’s nine-man roster to wear down, especially with two key veterans (Harden, Tucker) having missed large chunks of training camp. Peak fitness is likely still a ways away for this group.

The best bet could be for Wood, who scored 31 against the Blazers, to go over his 22.5 points total. At 25 years old and with the benefit of a full training camp, he should be fresher than many of the veterans.

An athletic 6-foot-10 big man, Wood has sparked comparisons to former Rockets center Clint Capela, who often ran circles around the slow-footed Jokic. Unlike Capela, though, Wood also combines his gifts as a roll man with perimeter shooting touch. For a weary and shorthanded Houston squad, Wood’s energy could lead to plenty of scoring chances.

Prediction: 116-108, Nuggets

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Rockets reaction: McCollum, Lillard outlast Harden, Wood in overtime thriller

From the postgame locker room, here’s what the Rockets had to say after a close loss in Portland in their first game of the regular season.

All-Star guard James Harden led the way for Houston with 44 points (55% FG) and 17 assists, while new center Christian Wood had a memorable debut for his new team with 31 points (64% FG) and 13 rebounds.

Yet, because of a similarly epic showing by Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, Portland survived Saturday night’s thriller in overtime, 128-126 (box score). It was the first game of the 2020-21 regular season for the Rockets (0-1), while the Blazers evened their record at 1-1. McCollum scored 44 and hit a career-high nine shots from 3-point range.

Harden hit two stepback treys in the final minute of overtime to put the Rockets in front, but McCollum canned a dagger 3-pointer with just over six seconds left for the final margin. Damian Lillard added 32 for the Blazers and had the assist on McCollum’s winner, as the 76 points from Portland’s backcourt narrowly edged out the 75 by Harden and Wood.

The Rockets were very undermanned due to six absences from COVID-19 and associated contact tracing, with veterans John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins the most notable. In all, Houston had only nine active players, one above the minimum requirement of eight to play an NBA game. But they still almost had enough to win on the road against a playoff team from last season, largely due to the two biggest names.

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Rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate impressed off the bench with 13 points (56% FG) and four rebounds, and his toughness paid immediate dividends on the defensive end. The Rockets were +14 in the 37 minutes that Tate played, and -16 in the 16 minutes that he did not.

See below for a roundup of postgame reaction from the Houston locker room. The Rockets return to action on Monday night at Denver (0-2) for their second game of the 2020-21 regular season.

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Rockets stats: James Harden, Christian Wood score 75 in overtime loss

Harden had 44 points and 17 assists in Portland, while Wood tallied 31 points and 13 rebounds in his debut as Houston’s starting center.

All-Star guard James Harden led the way for Houston with 44 points (55% FG) and 17 assists, while new starting center Christian Wood had a remarkable debut with 31 points (64% FG) and 13 rebounds.

Yet, because of a similarly epic showing by Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, Portland survived Saturday night’s thriller in overtime, 128-126 (box score). It was the first game of the 2020-21 regular season for the Rockets (0-1), while the Blazers evened their record at 1-1. McCollum scored 44 and hit a career-high nine shots from 3-point range.

Harden hit two stepback treys in the final minute of overtime to put the Rockets in front, but McCollum canned a dagger 3-pointer with just over six seconds left for the final margin. Damian Lillard added 32 for the Blazers and had the assist on McCollum’s winner, as the 76 points from Portland’s backcourt narrowly edged out the 75 by Harden and Wood.

The Rockets were extremely undermanned due to absences from COVID-19 and associated contact tracing, with veterans John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins the most notable. In all, Houston had only nine active players, one above the minimum requirement of eight to play an NBA game. But they still almost had enough to win on the road against a playoff team from last season, largely due to the two biggest names.

Rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate impressed off the bench with 13 points (56% FG) and four rebounds, and his toughness paid immediate dividends on the defensive end. The Rockets were +14 in the 37 minutes that Tate played, and -16 in the 16 minutes that he did not.

See below for a compilation of highlights. Houston returns to action Monday in Denver for its second game of the 2020-21 regular season.

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Rockets at Blazers: Betting odds, point spread for Saturday night

James Harden and the Rockets will take on Damian Lillard’s Trail Blazers in the first game of the 2020-21 regular season for Houston.

The Rockets visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night in the first game of the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season for Houston. If you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We have the latest point spread, moneyline odds, and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The Rockets will be very shorthanded, with six players unavailable due to positive tests for COVID-19 (Ben McLemore, KJ Martin Jr.) or from contact tracing after possible exposure (John Wall, Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins, and Mason Jones). In all, Houston should have nine active players, just one above the minimum requirement of eight to play.

According to the team’s injury report, players expected to be available include guards James Harden, David Nwaba, Sterling Brown, and Brodric Thomas; forwards Danuel House Jr., PJ Tucker, and Jae’Sean Tate; and centers Christian Wood and Bruno Caboclo.

There’s no guarantee that the game will go forward, since Houston is close enough to the minimum number of active players that unexpected testing results on gameday could change the calculus. However, the fact that the team flew to Portland is a clear signal that they anticipate playing, based on the known information as of late Friday.

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Saturday’s tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Central, with the game shown in usual Houston markets on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. Led by the veteran backcourt of All-Star Damian Lillard and running mate CJ McCollum, the Blazers enter at 0-1 after a 20-point home loss to Utah to open the season. Meanwhile, the Rockets are 0-0, since Wednesday’s planned opener was postponed due to COVID-19 issues.

Houston (44-28) was the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference last season, while Portland (35-39) finished at No. 8. Both teams lost in five games to the eventual champion Lakers in best-of-seven playoff series.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Blazers -8.5 (+100); Rockets +8.5 (-120)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +275/Blazers -350
  • Over-under: 226.5 (-110)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: James Harden 33.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Christian Wood 21.5 (-120 O, -105 U); Damian Lillard 28.5 (-110 O, -115 U), CJ McCollum 21.5 (-105 O, -120 U)

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

Portland being favored by 8.5 points is a reflection of numerous absences for the Rockets, who have only nine players available due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Yet, in James Harden and Christian Wood, Houston’s best and highest-upside players are expected to play.

Picking the Rockets to win outright might be too ambitious. However, with a perennial MVP finalist leading the way, it feels like an overreaction to have Houston as a nearly double-digit underdog versus the Blazers, who had a losing record last year and lost their home opener by 20.

Going under on McCollum’s points prop (21.5) could also be an intriguing play, since Houston’s perimeter absences should lead to more playing time for David Nwaba and Sterling Brown. Both are strong defenders. They may not be shifty enough to corral the lightning-quick Lillard, but their strength could play well versus McCollum at shooting guard.

Prediction: 115-109, Blazers

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Christian Wood says James Harden, John Wall will make him a star

“Playing with those two, they’re going to make me a star,” Wood said after Tuesday’s practice. “The sky is the limit for us.”

Coming off a sensational debut with 27 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes during Houston’s final exhibition game, new Rockets center Christian Wood says he and his teammates are ready for the 2020-21 regular season, which begins Wednesday night at Toyota Center.

Most notably, the 6-foot-10 big man thinks he could get even better, as he continues to get more repetitions with veteran guards James Harden and John Wall. Here’s what Wood said after Tuesday’s practice:

I think playing with those two, they’re gonna make me a star. Through practices and one preseason game, we felt the chemistry between each other. We haven’t even had a full season together. The sky’s the limit for us.

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Head coach Stephen Silas also shared optimism regarding his 25-year-old center, who missed much of the start of training camp due to a sore left elbow. But Wood was medically cleared a week ago, and since then, his chemistry with Houston’s All-Star guards seems to have grown.

It’s been really good. I mean, he’s so versatile, and to have players that can draw attention away from him? Now he’s attacking closeouts, or they draw a second defender, which happens to be his defender, and now he can play to his strengths.

It’s going to be an ongoing process that’ll probably have a little bit of ups and downs in it, because stuff like that doesn’t usually just start good and stay good. There’s usually some bumps in the road along the way. But we have the tools to allow him to kind of do his thing, and when he’s doing his thing at a high level, it’s good for everybody.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvKslkfbWtA

The Rockets hope to see even more growth from Wood once the regular season begins. Wednesday’s tipoff between Houston and Oklahoma City is set for 7:00 p.m. Central, with the game shown regionally on AT&T SportsNet Southwest and nationally on NBA League Pass.

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