After dropping their first eight road games of the NBA’s 2023-24 season, the Rockets (13-9) have finally found some momentum away from Houston with back-to-back wins as visitors. Coming off Friday’s win at Memphis, they’ve won five consecutive games, overall.
But Sunday’s matchup versus Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and a loaded Milwaukee (18-7) squad is a much tougher test.
If there’s any silver lining for the Rockets, it’s that Milwaukee is on night two of a back-to-back, having played Saturday versus lowly Detroit (2-24). But that may not be as important as usual.
For starters, both games of Milwaukee’s back-to-back are at home, so there’s no in-between travel. In addition, because the Pistons are so bad, the Bucks weren’t pushed particularly hard on the front end.
Finally, the Rockets will be on night one of their own back-to-back, and head coach Ime Udoka might need to be conservative with minutes for some of his veterans — particularly since Monday’s game at Cleveland would seem to be more winnable, on paper.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 17
- Time: 6 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 (13-9)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Milwaukee Bucks (18-7)
- Guard: Damian Lillard
- Guard: Andre Jackson Jr.
- Forward: Khris Middleton
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Brook Lopez
Bucks coach Adrian Griffin also told reporters that Khris Middleton will NOT play tomorrow against the Pistons, which is the front end of back-to-back.
Griffin added that they expect Middleton to play on Sunday against the Rockets though. https://t.co/NInp1VBJCP
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 15, 2023
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out, while Amen Thompson are each questionable with an illness. Young prospects Cam Whitmore, Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr. are away from the team while playing for their club’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
The Bucks are not required to issue Sunday’s report until a few hours before tipoff, owing to the back-to-back. On Saturday, they were without Khris Middleton (right knee injury management), Malik Beasley (illness), and Jae Crowder (left adductor surgery).
TyTy Washington Jr., Chris Livingston, and Marques Bolden are all with Milwaukee’s G League affiliate.
Dec. 17 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Bucks: White Association Edition
Latest interviews
#Rockets open their 3-game road trip with a 103-96 win in Memphis
That's 5-straight wins for the @HoustonRockets
Ime Udoka with the media after the WIN pic.twitter.com/Qd7YrtpLwl
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 16, 2023
