It was just over three weeks ago when Steph Curry blitzed the Rockets with a barrage of late 3-pointers at Toyota Center. That clutch road victory by the Golden State Warriors dropped Houston to a season-worst mark of 0-3 to begin the 2023-24 “Liftoff” campaign.
But led by new head coach Ime Udoka, Houston has improved dramatically in the weeks since, having won six of eight games after that loss. Monday’s matchup offers an opportunity for revenge against the most dominant franchise of the league’s current era.
At the moment, Golden State certainly isn’t looking like the legacy Warriors. They enter with six consecutive losses and are missing defensive ace Draymond Green due to a league suspension.
The Rockets aren’t playing poorly, but they enter with two straight losses. Both came in the final seconds in Los Angeles versus the Clippers (on Friday) and the Lakers (on Sunday).
After missing two weeks to start the season with a stress reaction in his left lower leg, reserve Rockets forward Tari Eason is expected to sit out in Golden State. It’s the second night of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights for Houston, which still has Eason on something of a minutes limitation as he works his way back.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Monday, Nov. 20
- Time: 9 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 (6-5)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Golden State Warriors (6-8)
- Guard: Steph Curry
- Guard: Chris Paul
- Forward: Klay Thompson
- Forward: Andrew Wiggins
- Center: Kevon Looney
Projected lineups are based on each team’s latest game.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Amen Thompson (right ankle sprain) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out. Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) is expected to sit out.
Cam Whitmore, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Hinton were recently recalled to the Rockets after a brief stint with Houston’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
The Warriors are listing Draymond Green (league suspension) and Gary Payton II (left foot strain) as out, while Trayce Jackson-Davis (left lower leg soreness) is questionable to play.
Nov. 20 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Warriors: White Association Edition
Latest interviews
For the 2nd straight game the #Rockets fall in the final moments of the game @HoustonRockets back in action later today at Golden State pic.twitter.com/wdVNWT4qUl
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) November 20, 2023
