The young, rebuilding Houston Rockets travel to Phoenix to take on one of the Western Conference's top teams, the Phoenix Suns. Houston has started the season at 1-5 and have lost two straight entering play on Sunday. The Suns, meanwhile, continue to try and recover from last year's shocking second round departure from the playoffs and are 4-1 with three straight wins to start the season. The opening tap is set for 9:00pm EST.
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The Houston Rockets have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, including three starters that are 20 years of age or younger, so there will certainly be growing pains. The lone veteran of note on the Rockets is swingman Eric Gordon and he could certainly be trade bait at some point this season as playoff-bound teams look to bolster their roster. On Friday night, the Rockets were pounded by the Blazers on the road, 125-111. Gordon led the way with 18 points while point guard Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in with 16 points. The Rockets shot just 43% in the game while allowing Portland to shoot 53%.
“We should have been frustrated with the way we played, especially in the fist half, Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. ”We’re putting a lot of pressure on our offsense because of our defense. … Not a good night. We’ve got to do better.”
Final from Portland. pic.twitter.com/O8AkNL5C48
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 29, 2022
It should be another challenging year for a Rockets team that got even younger this season with the addition of Jabari Smith out of Auburn with their first pick in the draft. Smith is starting at power forward and is averaging nearly 14 points per game and 6.5 rebounds to start the campaign. Smith has looked like an inexperienced rookie at times, particularly on the defensive end. Smith is averaging nearly five fouls per game through the first six games. The Rockets are just 29th in shooting thus far through the first six games while they are just 27th in defensive field goal percentage.
Key Injuries: PF Bruno Fernando is out and G TyTy Washington Jr. is doubtful.
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