It’s a strangely non-televised game today for the Houston Rockets against their cross-state rival, the San Antonio Spurs. But as AK mentions in his preview, that’s giving Rockets.com a chance to stream the game online to even larger audience. Both Clint Capela and P.J. Tucker will play, giving us our first look at what could very well be Houston’s opening night starters: Capela, Tucker return for the Rockets vs. Spurs, will start with Harden, Paul, Ennis. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 7, 2018 For the Rockets not playing, in addition to Marquese Chriss and Isaiah Hartenstein, who were declared out yesterday, the Rockets will now also be down Michael Carter-Willams, who is battling a sore knee: Michael Carter-Williams out for the Rockets vs. Spurs with a sore left knee. — Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 7, 2018 Despite the injuries, it’ll be a good game to see what the lineup looks like with Ennis starting alongside Tucker at the forward spots, with both Carmelo Anthony and Eric Gordon coming off the bench. As head coach Mike D’Antoni tries out different combinations to find the most effective, it bears watching what one of the most likely iterations to start the regular with looks like against top competition. Go Rockets!<doc-sep>The most important thing about today’s game against the San Antonio Spurs is that it’s not on television, but it will be available to everyone presumably all over the world. Rather than being televised on local or national television, the game will be streamed on Rockets.com and the Houston Rockets Facebook page. No word yet as to whether there will be commentary or not, but this is a cool wrinkle for preseason games. The ability to watch on a computer is pretty cool and opens the Rockets to a wider audience. As for the game, Houston will continue get rid of the usual rust that players have coming out of the offseason and Mike D’Antoni will try to find out which lineups can play solid minutes. The XL Hoodie Lineup (I’ll come up with a better name, I swear) did work against the Pacers and went on a 21-3 run. In a regular season game, it would have been a crazy few minutes. In the preseason, it’s shrugged off (understandably). On the injury report, Clint Capela is questionable to return from his foot tweak. Isaiah Hartenstein and Marquese Chriss are both out with left ankle sprains, per Jonathan Feigen. We might even get our first preseason action from Zhou Qi tonight, so look out. I think some stuff happened with the Spurs in the offseason, but who knows. Tip-off is at 3pm CT on Rockets.com and the Houston Rockets Facebook page.<doc-sep>Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. It’s the third game of the 2018-2019 preseason as the Spurs enter the post big three era. Lonnie Walker IV is out due to injury, but everyone else on the roster is healthy and expected to play. It will be a good test for the undefeated Spurs to go against last year’s second place Western Conference finisher, James Harden’s Rockets. Viewing info: TV: none Streaming: Rockets.com and the Rockets Facebook page will have live streams available at game time. Radio: 1200 AM If you have league pass, you should be able to listen to audio of the game. Regular season starts on October 16, and the first game for the Silver and Black is on Wednesday October 17 against the Timberwolves. Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments, but it is not against site policy to exchange email addresses for instance.<doc-sep>SAN ANTONIO – As different as the offensive styles of the 3-happy Rockets and retooled Spurs might be, through most of the first half on Sunday they seemed to prove only that 3-pointers and mid-range shots count the same when they are missed. There might have been something else the Rockets will take from the bumpy path past the Spurs, 108-93, behind a strong defensive performance. Playing a team that will still post up, happy to take contested jumpers in the lane, the Rockets went small in ways they likely will during the regular season and some that they won't. With backup centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Marquese Chriss in Houston with sprained ankles and Clint Capela going out after 22 minutes with a bruised right hand, the Rockets went without centers against Spurs All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge got his shots, including many he might normally make. But the undersized Rockets challenged him enough, with double-team help coming late in the shot clock, that Aldridge made just 5 of 15 attempts in his 27 minutes. P.J. Tucker had returned after missing two games with a sore back to lead the Rockets in scoring with 15 points on 7 of 15 shooting in his 34 minutes while taking his turn as the Rockets' small lineup center. But the more significant breakthrough might have been late in the game when the firepower available in that lineup took control. The Rockets had shot badly through most of the night. But after regaining the lead on three-point plays by James Harden and Tucker, the Rockets finished off the Spurs when Carmelo Anthony offered a late-game burst. Anthony, coming off the bench for the first time in the preseason with Tucker back, had made just 1 of 7 shots when he scored 10 points in a two-minute span that rushed the Rockets to a 10-point lead. He put in a pair of 3s and an iso jumper in that stretch, displaying another offensive option that would come with a small lineup with he and Tucker working as pseudo centers. The Rockets had found their 3-point touch when the second half began, building a 15-point lead. As they have sporadically through the first three preseason games, after a few good minutes, the Rockets seemed to lose interest, mixing a few sloppy turnovers with slow-footed defense, especially in transition. The Spurs outscored the Rockets, 20-7, in the final 4 ½ minutes of the third quarter, mostly with Marco Belinelli, Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes just playing harder. The Spurs needed two fourth-quarter minutes to take their first lead of the night with DeMar DeRozan and Harden returning to the floor as if the game meant something. That also seemed to get the Rockets to defend again. James Ennis III blocked a DeRozan shot before Harden stripped him, starting the Rockets on a break that ended with a Tucker 3-point play. From there, Anthony gave the Rockets their finishing kick. More encouraging – if Capela's hand and a turned ankle that forced Eric Gordon from the game are not serious – was the Rockets' defense. The Spurs made just 38.6 percent of their shots, even with their second-half burst led by reserves. With Tucker playing for the first time in the preseason, the Rockets had their first chance to use one of the starting lineups Mike D'Antoni will consider, with Tucker and Ennis at the forwards. That seemed to click early. Tucker made a 3, Ennis hit a 3-pointer and finished a break. The Rockets defended well, particularly at the 3-point line and when perimeter players had to switch on to Aldridge. The Rockets led by as much as 11 and might have been encouraged just to defend well and get good shots. But after a while, they missed so many of those looks, it was difficult to take much satisfaction out of holding the Spurs to just 41 first-half points and 27.3 percent shooting. After the Rockets made 3 of 6 3-pointers to open the game, they made just 2 of their next 18, and that included the halfcourt heave Chris Paul banked in to end the first quarter. The Rockets rebuilt their 15-point edge in the final minute, but it might have been more encouraging that in a game against one of the league's top interior scorers and a team willing to be the lone mid-rangers, the defense was in control throughout.<doc-sep>
The Spurs have looked good in two consecutive games but have yet to meet a real contender. Tonight they play their first game against a Western Conference team. The Houston Rockets, no less, who were a few minutes shy of making the NBA Finals. If you are not heading down to the AT&T Center today then you can view the only televised broadcast of the game on the Houston Rockets’ Facebook page. San Antonio Spurs (2-0) vs. Houston Rockets (1-1) Spurs injuries: Lonnie Walker IV (out 4-6 weeks on torn meniscus) October 7, 2018 | 4:00 pm CDT Listen: 1200 AM WOAI The Spurs Pop has coached two preseason games and started two very different, but viable line-ups. In both, Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, and LaMarcus Aldridge have started. That would seem consistent with what was expected this season. But whether Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol should start or come off the bench could be a variable throughout the season. Notably, Bryn Forbes and Derrick White are seeing more playing time so far. Hopefully, this will fare well for their positions off the bench. This is most likely our last opportunity to see Nick Johnson. As for the 15th spot and the second two-way, there is still a chance for someone to nab a contract. Missing from Friday night’s game was Okaro White. Keep an eye out to see if he makes an appearance today. Houston Rockets The Rockets are coming off a loss to the Indiana Pacers in which five of their players scores in double figures. Only eleven players made it onto the court proving that even in preseason Mike D’Antoni likes his core to play the max amount of time. This bodes well for the Spurs as by March his aging stars will be gassed. Put Dejounte on James Harden now just so he can feel what a relentless, energetic twenty-two year old would be like in a seven game series. They may throw in the towel and go all Harden/Paul implosion early this season. Do the Rockets need to Melo out? Considering how close the Rockets came to glory last season (which would only have made Houston more full of itself considering the Astros), bringing an overpriced declining star with an ego problem into the fold doesn’t seem like the best use of time and energy. The Rockets signing Melo (along with the Warriors signing DeMarcus Cousins) seems to only make these teams less likable. The Spurs have ridded themselves of their negative attitudinal player, and they are the better for it. Let’s see if the basketball gods smile on the positive, small market team once again. Preseason will definitely set the tone. Time for the Good Guys! Vegas line: N/A Game prediction: Same as last Easter- SPURS BY 17! For the Rockets fans’ perspective, visit The Dream Shake. PtR’s Gamethread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.