Christmas Game thread: Thunder vs. Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11) vs. Houston Rockets (17-15), Dec. 25, 2017, 2:00 p.m. CDT

Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX

TV: ABC

Radio: KBME 790 AM/KEYH 850 AM (Spanish)/KNTE 101.7 FM (Spanish)/Streaming on Rockets App

Online: Rockets App

Thunder SBNation Blog: Welcome to Loud City

The Rockets need a Christmas miracle to get back to where they were last year. At this game last year, the team was 25-6, which is 8.5 games better than their current mark.

Last year, the Thunder took the Christmas contest, but the game was in Oklahoma City. Today, the Rockets have the luxury of playing in their own backyard, where they have played well as of late. The Rockets have not lost at home since November 28. Since then, the Rockets are 6-0 in the Toyota Center.

The team will also look slightly different today. Newly signed Austin Rivers come off the bench to make his Rockets debut. Hopefully Rivers’ presence will give the team an extra scoring weapon from deep and some much-needed depth, especially with Chris Paul sitting for a second straight game with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have won four of their last five, climbing up the Western Conference standings at a furious pace. Their hope today is to halt some of the Rockets’ momentum that the team has built in the last week and a half.

TDS community, be merry and comment in the comments section below.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Go Rockets!