Though the team is now 1-8 and on a five-game losing streak, the brightest spot of the 2022-23 season to date for the young Houston Rockets is the play of second-year center Alperen Sengun.
Thus far, the 6-foot-11 big man from Turkey is averaging 16.7 points (56.8% FG) and 10.3 rebounds in an extremely efficient 27.1 minutes per game, and he put up a season-high 26 points and 13 rebounds during Wednesday’s competitive loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Saturday, the expectation was for Sengun to face a much tougher test when the Rockets travel to Minnesota for a matchup versus the Timberwolves and Rudy Gobert, a 7-foot-1 behemoth who has won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award three times. However, Gobert is now in health and safety protocols.
Will Sengun be able to take advantage of Gobert’s absence? Here’s how you can watch, along with a look at projected lineups and injuries. Houston has a new addition to its injury report in rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., who will miss the game due to an illness.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 5
- 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 (1-8)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Eric Gordon
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Minnesota Timberwolves (4-5)
- Guard: D’Angelo Russell
- Guard: Anthony Edwards
- Forward: Jaden McDaniels
- Forward: Karl Anthony-Towns
- Center: Naz Reid
These projected lineups are primarily based on each team’s starters from their most recent game, which for Minnesota came on Friday night. Thus, it’s at least plausible that some changes could be made by head coach Chris Finch on night two of a back-to-back. For Houston, the lone change is Martin in place of Smith (illness).
Editor’s note: This section was revised with Reid starting at center after Minnesota’s pregame disclosure that Rudy Gobert will miss the game due to being placed in health and safety protocols.
Injury reports
Houston’s latest injury report lists Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness), Bruno Fernando (left knee soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. (illness), and TyTy Washington (left knee sprain) as out for Saturday.
The Timberwolves will be without big man Rudy Gobert due to health and safety protocols, but they are otherwise healthy.
