The Rockets play six times between Oct. 23 and Oct. 31: two back-to-backs and four road games. San Antonio comes first, and it is the matchup that sets the bar for the week.
Last season
The Spurs won 62 games to Houston's 52, and the ratings show why. San Antonio scored 118.7 per 100 possessions, allowed 110.4 and finished plus-8.4. The Rockets came in at 117.5, 112.1 and plus-5.4. The bigger gap is tempo: San Antonio played at 100.7 possessions a game and Houston at 97.0. Victor Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 boards in 29.2 minutes, and he is the problem Houston has to solve first.
Oct. 23
Houston is 1-0 after beating Dallas 128-110 in the opener. Tonight's game is in San Antonio on Prime Video, and the Rockets have had one day of rest to the Spurs' two. Mitch Johnson's side is short-handed: Tobias Harris (left calf) and Jayden Quaintance (right knee) are out, and De'Aaron Fox (right wrist) and Keldon Johnson (mouth) are listed but not ruled out. For Houston, Reed Sheppard (left knee) is projected back Oct. 23, and so is Adams (right calf).
Oct. 24-26
There is no breather after San Antonio. The Rockets fly to Atlanta for the second night of a back-to-back on Oct. 24, their second straight road game. After a day off, they host the Hawks on Oct. 26. Seeing the same opponent twice in three days gives Ime Udoka's staff a chance to adjust. The first meeting, on tired legs and away from Toyota Center, is the one most likely to get away.
Oct. 28
Next is Milwaukee on the road. Houston's half-court baseline is still Kevin Durant, who scored 26.0 a night last season and hit 41.3% of his threes, and Alperen Sengun, who put up 20.4 points, 8.9 boards and 6.2 assists. Those numbers came in a slower game than San Antonio plays. This week tests whether they hold up on short rest and with that many road miles.
Oct. 30-31
The second back-to-back closes the stretch. Houston plays at Dallas on Oct. 30, a rematch of the opener, then comes home for Oklahoma City on Oct. 31 on NBA TV. ESPN reported that Tari Eason was ejected in the opener for shoving P.J. Washington in the back, which gives the Dallas game an edge. The Rockets beat the Thunder 116-89 in preseason on Oct. 15, but that game tells you little about this one.
When do the Rockets play the Spurs, and where can I watch?
Houston plays at San Antonio on Oct. 23, and the game is on Prime Video. It starts a six-game stretch that runs through Oct. 31.
Who is injured for the Rockets this week?
Reed Sheppard (left knee) and Steven Adams (right calf) are both listed, with Oct. 23 as their projected return. Neither has been ruled out.
