(Editor’s note: This story was published prior to the NBA’s announcement of a one-game suspension for Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate. Neither will be available for Sunday’s game.)
In the first of back-to-back games in Los Angeles, the struggling Houston Rockets will face the Clippers on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena before facing the Lakers there on Monday night.
The young and rebuilding Rockets (10-32) have lost nine straight games and 14 of 15, overall, and they’re hoping to avoid their first double-digit losing streak of the 2022-23 NBA season.
One option to turn things around could be greater usage for Alperen Sengun, which may be necessary in the aftermath of Kevin Porter Jr.’s foot injury. Sengun posted his first career triple-double in one of Houston’s two games in Sacramento, becoming the youngest player in Rockets history and the youngest center in NBA history to do so.
“The baby [Nikola] Jokic, that’s what I call him,” Clippers veteran Nicolas Batum said of Sengun. “It’s going to be a good test for us.”
Nicolas Batum called Rockets center Alperen Sengun, 'Baby Jokic,' before Clippers' practice today.
He's said this a few times in conversations he and I have had, adding that he's incredibly talented and the Rockets really should play through him.pic.twitter.com/ZQ5TzXb61U
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 13, 2023
When and How to Watch
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
- Time: 2 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 (10-32)
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Guard: Eric Gordon
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Los Angeles Clippers (22-22)
- Guard: Terance Mann
- Guard: Norman Powell
- Forward: Kawhi Leonard
- Forward: Nicolas Batum
- Center: Ivica Zubac
Projected lineups are mostly based on each team’s prior game. The lone exception the removal of Marcus Morris Sr. for the Clippers, since Morris is doubtful with a left knee contusion.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Kevin Porter Jr. as doubtful with a left foot contusion. For the Clippers, Paul George (hamstring soreness) and Luke Kennard (calf soreness) are out, while Marcus Morris Sr. (knee contusion), and John Wall (abdominal soreness) are doubtful. Moussa Diabate (non-COVID illness) is questionable.
