The Houston Rockets kick off the final road trip of their 2021-22 season when they visit Brooklyn at Barclays Center on Tuesday night. The Nets will be led by their superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who is now eligible to play in home games due to a recent change in New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine policy for the private sector.
Based on those two future Hall of Famers, Brooklyn is a clear favorite. But Houston has a rising star of its own in Jalen Green, who is currently just the third NBA rookie in at least the past 40 years to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games. With the historic feat, Green joins Michael Jordan from 1985 and Allen Iverson in 1997.
Tuesday’s game is also fascinating for the Rockets from a 2022 NBA draft perspective. Houston is currently tied with Orlando for the league’s worst record and the best possible positioning entering the draft lottery. Yet, a win in Brooklyn wouldn’t be as harmful as most — since the Rockets also own the first-round pick of the Nets, and a Brooklyn loss could reduce their odds of ultimately making the 2022 playoffs.
I can't justify it, but believe me, I've tried. I won't be upset if they do win though. It almost assuredly kills your chance of being the worst team, but realistically (ORL won't win another game), that's only a 50% random tiebreaker shot. Beating BKN could be significant. https://t.co/LPz7hNDF5U
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 4, 2022
