Five 2019-20 preseason games are now confirmed for the Houston Rockets, headlined by a pair of early-October games in Japan against the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
The preseason slate begins at home on Monday, Sept. 30 vs. the Shanghai Sharks with a 7:00 p.m. local time tip at Toyota Center. Assuming health, that game should serve as the Houston debut for the new star backcourt pairing of 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook with 2018 MVP James Harden.
The next confirmed games are Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Thursday, Oct. 10 in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the NBA Japan Games 2019. The layoff allows time for travel and acclimation to the massive gap in time zones, which has both games starting at 5 a.m. Houston time.
The games in Japan will be played at the Saitama Super Arena, which holds approximately 37,000 fans.
After the trip, the Rockets wrap the preseason with a home game versus the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and a road game in Miami on Friday, Oct. 18 against the Heat. Both games tip at 7 p.m. Central time.
Tickets to both of Houston’s two home preseason games (Sept. 30, Oct. 16) are currently available for sale.
