Heat Visiting Houston

It has to be pretty rare that a Rockets game starts at 9pm - in Houston. That’s the case tonight as the Miami Heat come to town for the Rockets second pre-season game.

Of course it IS a crammed sports night. There’s an NFL Thursday game. There’s the USMNT playing Jamaica in Austin. There’s Red Sox versus Rays. And oh yeah, the Astros getting the coveted 3pm CST start time for their series versus the Chicago White Sox.

It’s hard to fit a prime-time ESPN pre-season basketball game in, under the circumstances.

Miami comes to town all-in on the season, having signed Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson to rich deals, and adding Kyle Lowry. It’s an especially Heaty Heat team this year, with lots of hard work, team culture, hard nosed play and tough looks. I don’t think it’s enough to overcome a healthy and available Nets team, but it won’t be for a lack of trying. Maybe a bit of Max Strus and Victor Oladipo magic will propel them over the top in the East.

The Rockets will be without Eric Gordon who has an ankle injury, or something pre-season related.

Expect the Rockets plan of giving lots of guys minutes, and high variance shooting to continue. Will signs of an incipient breakout from Scoot Porter Jr continue? Has Josh Christopher found a shot? Will the Rockets make free throws?

Find out tonight!