Entering this week, the Houston Rockets were 12-2 at home this season. That brought understandable optimism ahead of the season-high seven-game homestand at Toyota Center.
But Houston hasn’t had the same good fortune this week. It lost the first two games of the homestand to Indiana and Phoenix while also losing both forward starters to injuries. Dillon Brooks is sidelined by a right oblique strain, and Jabari Smith Jr. is out with a sprained left ankle.
The Rockets (15-14) would love to stop the bleeding Friday as the homestand continues, but the task isn’t much easier with the Philadelphia 76ers (21-9) coming to town. Though reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain) is unavailable, rising star Tyrese Maxey led the short-handed Sixers to an impressive 20-point victory in Orlando on Wednesday, even with Embiid sidelined.
For the Rockets, Jae’Sean Tate, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore are among the forward or wing options that could receive additional playing time in the wake of losing Brooks and Smith to injury.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Friday, Dec. 29
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (15-14)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Tari Eason
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Philadelphia 76ers (21-9)
- Guard: Tyrese Maxey
- Guard: De’Anthony Melton
- Forward: Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Forward: Tobias Harris
- Center: Paul Reed
Injury reports
Houston’s report lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair), Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) and Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) as out. Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) is questionable, though he has played through that designation of late. Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Williams are in the G League.
Philadelphia’s report lists Nicolas Batum (right hamstring strain) and Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain) as out. Kenneth Lofton Jr., Terquavion Smith and Ricky Council IV are with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate.
Dec. 29 uniform choices
- Rockets: White City Edition
- 76ers: Red Statement Edition
