Entering what was billed by many as another rebuilding year, the Houston Rockets have wildly overachieved expectations in the NBA’s 2022-23 preseason. Second-year guard Jalen Green and rookie forward Tari Eason have led the way for an improving group, which has a 2-0 record and a 27-point average margin of victory.
But Monday’s game against Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the veteran-laden Miami Heat is Houston’s first road game of the exhibition slate, and it comes against a perennial Eastern Conference contender.
The Rockets will again be short-handed with rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) and Eric Gordon (rest) sitting out for a second straight game, though second-year center Alperen Sengun will return after missing Friday’s victory due to a dental procedure.
Can Houston keep its run of surprisingly strong form going? Scroll on for a look at broadcast information, projected lineups, and known injuries. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central at FTX Arena.
Rockets at Heat broadcast information
- Date: Monday, Oct. 10
- Time: 6:30 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Radio: KBME 790 AM, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (2-0, preseason)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Miami Heat (2-1, preseason)
- Guard: Kyle Lowry
- Guard: Tyler Herro
- Forward: Jimmy Butler
- Forward: Caleb Martin
- Center: Bam Adebayo
Houston’s projected lineup is based on the latest game notes from the Rockets, while Miami’s lineup is a best guess factoring in the latest injury reports and earlier preseason patterns.
The official Heat game notes currently lists the starting lineup from Friday’s exhibition in Memphis, which was an outlier since Miami chose to hold out many regulars on night two of a back-to-back. On Monday, the Heat will enter rested and without a back-to-back on either end, so expect most of Erik Spoelstra’s rotation players to play.
Injuries
- Rockets: Jabari Smith Jr. out (left ankle sprain), Eric Gordon out (rest)
- Heat: Omer Yurtseven questionable (left ankle soreness)
This post originally appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
Yurtseven limited by left ankle. Everyone else full practice today for Heat.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 9, 2022
