After Sunday’s big win over Milwaukee, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets have suddenly won four straight games within their friendly home confines of Toyota Center.
Can they keep that momentum rolling when another 2022-23 NBA title contender comes to town? We’ll find out when former Rockets star Chris Paul leads the veteran-laden Phoenix Suns into town for the second game of Houston’s season-high seven-game homestand.
Jalen Green and the Rockets stunned Devin Booker and the Suns two weeks ago in Phoenix, rallying from a 16-point deficit in the second half to capture a statement victory. In that game, Paul wasn’t available due to injury, and it’s possible the Suns were overlooking a relatively unproven Houston group with a poor record at the time.
That shouldn’t be the case Tuesday, with Phoenix looking to make amends for its earlier loss to the Rockets. That loss started a stretch of five losses in six games for the Suns, including a pair of emotional losses last weekend to New Orleans.
Unlike the first game, the Suns will have Paul. However, they will not have Booker, who is sidelined by left hamstring tightness.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 13
- 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 (8-18)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Eric Gordon
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Phoenix Suns (16-11)
- Guard: Chris Paul
- Guard: Mikal Bridges
- Forward: Torrey Craig
- Forward: Dario Saric
- Center: Deandre Ayton
Projected lineups are based on each team’s latest game.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Jae’Sean Tate (sore right ankle) as out, while the Suns will be without Booker (left hamstring tightness), Cameron Johnson (right meniscus tear), Duane Washington Jr. (left hip muscle strain) and Jae Crowder (not with team).
