The Houston Rockets will play their first game after the 2022 NBA trade deadline on Thursday versus Toronto, and if you’re wondering how you can watch all the action live, you’ve come to the right place.
On paper, it’s a matchup of two teams headed in opposite directions, with the Raptors entering Wednesday with six straight wins and the last-place Rockets having lost seven of their last eight games, overall. But Houston will be rested and playing at home, while Toronto is on night two of a road back-to-back, which may help to somewhat mitigate that gap.
There could also be more randomness than normal if either team makes a meaningful transaction at Thursday’s deadline, since there likely won’t be an opportunity for any newly acquired players to play — considering the required process of taking physicals to finalize a trade.
For the Rockets, the biggest names to watch appear to be veterans Eric Gordon and Christian Wood, who remained on the roster as of Wednesday evening. However, both continue to be discussed in rumors.
Eric Gordon says he’s progressing (plantar fasciitis), but not sure if he’ll be available tomorrow night against Toronto. pic.twitter.com/v9gCn5RXrh
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 9, 2022
Among players who appear certain to be on the roster and play, expect rookie guard Jalen Green to come out firing with fellow rookie Scottie Barnes (drafted by the Raptors at No. 4 overall in the 2021 first round, two spots after Green) lining up in the Toronto frontcourt.
Green has had two of his best scoring games this season in matchups versus fellow top picks Cade Cunningham (No. 1) and recently against Evan Mobley (No. 3) — when Green scored a team-high 21 points to lead Houston to an upset win at home over Cleveland. The Rockets would love to follow that template versus Barnes and the Raptors, and it would also be a nice birthday gift for Green, who turned 20 years old Wednesday.
Join us in wishing @jalengreen of the @HoustonRockets a HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY! #NBABDAY pic.twitter.com/iamyObjmu6
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2022
