While they still own the NBA’s second-worst record, the rebuilding Houston Rockets have shown clear signs of progress in recent days. They’ve won four of their last seven games, overall, and two in a row inside their Toyota Center home versus the Celtics and Lakers.
The win over Boston was more impressive, since they’re a much better overall team and were close to full strength. The Lakers were short-handed, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis held out on night two of a road back-to-back. Yet, Los Angeles did enter with a clear incentive to win, since they’re in a close battle for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament — and a young Houston group playing only for pride got the job done.
Now, on Friday and Sunday, the Rockets are tasked with repeating that feat when the New Orleans Pelicans — another team squarely in the mix for the West’s final play-in tournament spots — comes to Houston badly in need of a win. Friday’s matchup is the fourth of a six-game homestand, which the Rockets are 2-1 on, so far.
Houston’s leader in recent games has been Kevin Porter Jr., who had 13 assists to just one turnover in Monday’s win over Boston. Then, against the Lakers, the 22-year-old guard followed that up with an efficient 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in another victory.
Led by veterans Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, the Pelicans badly need a win to stabilize their playoff push. With Zion Williamson out due to injury, New Orleans has lost eight of their last 11 games to fall to a season-worst mark of three games below .500.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Friday, March 17
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (17-52)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
New Orleans Pelicans (33-36)
- Guard: CJ McCollum
- Guard: Trey Murphy III
- Forward: Herbert Jones
- Forward: Brandon Ingram
- Center: Jonas Valančiūnas
Projected lineups are based on each team’s previous game.
Injury reports
With Houston’s injury report clean, the Rockets have opted to send rookie guard TyTy Washington to their NBA G League affiliate (the Rio Grande Valley Vipers) for more short-term playing time.
New Orleans is listing Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), Jose Alvarado (right tibial stress reaction), and E.J. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery) as out for Friday’s game.
