The Houston Rockets (11-29) are one defeat from 20 consecutive losses, which would be among the 10 longest losing streaks in NBA history. To avoid that dubious distinction, they need to defeat Oklahoma City (17-24) during Sunday’s home matinee at Toyota Center.
Houston’s second-most-recent victory came back on Feb. 1 versus those same Thunder, who the Rockets defeated with ease, 136-106 (recap), in Oklahoma City. At the time, Houston had won six straight games.
Much has changed since, particularly with major injuries to starters and rotation regulars such as Christian Wood, John Wall, and Victor Oladipo. All three are now healthy and back in the lineup, but as Houston learned in Friday’s deflating loss to Detroit, it may take more time to recapture the team chemistry that was shown prior to the skid.
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Here’s when you should tune in to see Sunday’s game:
- Date: Sunday, March 21
- Time: 1 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
- Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (11-29)
- Guard: John Wall
- Guard: Victor Oladipo
- Forward: Danuel House Jr.
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Center: Christian Wood
Oklahoma City Thunder (17-24)
- Guard: Theo Maledon
- Guard: Lu Dort
- Forward: Isaiah Roby
- Forward: Aleksej Pokuševski
- Center: Moses Brown
Second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. is likely to be out for the Rockets with right quadriceps soreness, while Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and David Nwaba (right wrist strain) remain sidelined for weeks. Porter’s injury is considered mild and more of the day-to-day variety.
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The Rockets also play on Monday, but per head coach Stephen Silas, there won’t be any planned maintenance during Sunday’s game. If Houston’s training staff deems it necessary for a veteran such as Oladipo and/or Wall to sit out a game, it would occur for Monday, not Sunday.
The Thunder have lost three of four going in, including consecutive road games — each by over 20 points — to the Bulls and Hawks. The good news for Houston is that Oklahoma City will be quite short-handed. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (right shoulder soreness), Al Horford (rest), Darius Bazley (left shoulder contusion), and George Hill (right thumb procedure) are all out for Sunday, per Oklahoma City’s injury report.
Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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