Unbeaten Rockets Host Hawks in Monday Rematch at Toyota Center
Two nights after winning 121-114 in Atlanta, the 3-0 Houston Rockets see the same Hawks team again — Monday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Center, in the second half of a home-and-home that opened Houston's first 3-0 start since 2017-18.
The Houston Rockets host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Center, an immediate rematch of Saturday night's game in Atlanta, Rockets Wire reported. The game will be televised and streamed regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally and internationally on NBA League Pass. Houston brings a 3-0 record into its home floor — the franchise's first 3-0 start since 2017-18, when it finished with an NBA-best 65-17 record that remains the best in team history — while Atlanta arrives at 2-1.
Saturday's 121-114 win came on the second night of a road back-to-back, and it turned on Reed Sheppard's return. The third-year guard, who had missed Friday's win over San Antonio with a bruised left knee, started with Fred VanVleet (knee injury maintenance) and Marcus Smart (left forearm strain) both unavailable and finished with 19 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds, making 5 of 11 three-pointers; Houston outscored Atlanta by 19 with him on the floor, tied with Kevin Durant for the game's best mark. “He had really good balance,” head coach Ime Udoka said of Sheppard. “He had some fresh legs coming off a game missed.”
Houston's scoring was balanced behind him: Durant had 22 points, Tari Eason 19, Amen Thompson 17 points with 11 rebounds and 6 assists, Alperen Sengun 17 points with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. 14. Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson's 26 points, 16 assists and 9 rebounds. Home-and-home series like this one usually test the losing team's adjustments — The Dream Shake noted in its preview that the team that loses the first game typically comes out more motivated in the second — and Atlanta shot just 13-of-49 from three on Saturday, a number the Hawks will expect to improve in Houston.
