Both the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets were expected by many across the NBA to be active at Thursday’s trade deadline.
But in both cases, each team was relatively quiet, seemingly choosing to wait until at least the 2024 offseason for any major transactions. So, instead of featuring new faces, Saturday’s clash at State Farm Arena will largely be a rematch of a game from late December.
In that earlier meeting, which featured a career-high 34 points by Jabari Smith Jr., Houston (23-28) stormed back from an early 20-point deficit to grab a 5-point lead late in the third quarter.
But from there, Trae Young and the Hawks (23-29) torched Alperen Sengun and the Rockets with a steady pick-and-roll diet in the fourth quarter, as Atlanta punched back to secure a 134-127 win.
So, will Houston have the necessary adjustments this time around? Both teams could be a bit weary, since the Rockets (loss, at Toronto) and Hawks (win, at Philadelphia) each played on Friday night. Thus, it will be night two of a back-to-back for both teams.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 10
- Time: 6:30 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 (23-28)
- Guard: Amen Thompson
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Atlanta Hawks (23-29)
- Guard: Trae Young
- Guard: Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Forward: Saddiq Bey
- Forward: Jalen Johnson
- Center: Onyeka Okongwu
Projected lineups are based on each team’s previous game.
Injury reports
Neither team is required to issue an updated injury report until a few hours before Saturday’s tipoff, owing to the back-to-back. Thus, the most recent updates are from Friday’s pregame reports.
For Friday, Houston’s injury report listed Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery), Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management), and Fred VanVleet (left adductor strain) as out. Cam Whitmore then sprained his right ankle during that night’s game, which puts his status for a game less than 24 hours later in serious doubt.
Meanwhile, the Hawks listed Clint Capela (left adductor strain) and Mouhamed Guyeye (right low back stress fracture) as out. Dejounte Murray (lower back tightness) was questionable, while De’Andre Hunter (right knee injury management) was probable.
Hunter ultimately played on Friday, while Murray did not.
Among young prospects, Nate Williams (Houston), Vit Krejci (Atlanta), Seth Lundy (Atlanta), and Kobe Bufkin (Atlanta) were all away from their team while in the NBA G League, as of Friday.
Feb. 10 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Hawks: Red Icon Edition
