Rockets Come Home for Halloween Night: Oklahoma City at Toyota Center After the First Loss
Houston's 5-1 start meets its quickest possible test - a 7:30 p.m. tip against the Thunder, one night after Dallas handed the Rockets their first defeat.
HOUSTON - There is no time for the Houston Rockets to sit with their first loss of the season. One night after falling 116-111 to the Mavericks in Dallas in their NBA Cup opener, the Rockets are home at Toyota Center on Saturday night to host the Oklahoma City Thunder, with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central.
Friday's loss was a fourth-quarter story: Dallas outscored Houston 40-27 in the final period to erase an eight-point deficit, behind 35 points and nine assists from Kyrie Irving and 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists from Cooper Flagg. Kevin Durant led Houston with 28 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 and Fred VanVleet 16, and the Rockets outrebounded Dallas 48-41 - but missed free throws late and a short-handed rotation, without Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard, told in the closing minutes, as coverage of the game reported.
Saturday's question is response. Houston arrives 5-1, with wins that include a 132-100 rout in Milwaukee on Wednesday, and the Thunder game is the second half of a back-to-back that will test exactly the depth Friday exposed. A win keeps the Rockets' start among the league's best; a second straight loss turns a one-night stumble into the season's first real conversation. Either way, Halloween night at Toyota Center will say something true about this team.
