Warriors vs. Rockets watch guide: Lineups, injuries, player usage

Share

SAN FRANCISCO -- Here comes longtime adversary James Harden, and he’s bringing Russell Westbrook with him.

Warriors-Rockets on Christmas Day at Chase Center is going to be, um, interesting. You can watch the SportsNet Central: Warriors Edition pregame show starting at 1 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area or stream it live on the MyTeams app.

The Warriors (7-24) no longer are the gold-standard team Houston has been chasing. Coming off consecutive wins for the first time this season, they’re making a bid to climb out of the abyss and toward respectability. Moreover, they’re eager to put on a good show for their fans.

The Rockets (21-9) have much higher goals. With the Warriors dynasty on pause, at the least, they see a chance to reach the top -- despite the barriers posed by the Clippers and the Lakers.

The Warriors should hope they are perceived as unthreatening when Rockets take the court.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Rockets

Golden State Warriors

Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

What we learned as Warriors' comeback attempt falls short vs. Mavs

Hardaway shares comical reaction to Butler's No. 10 Warriors jersey

F Danuel House

F P.J. Tucker

C Clint Capela

G Russell Westbrook

G James Harden

Warriors

F Alec Burks

F Draymond Green

C Willie Cauley-Stein

G Damion Lee

G D’Angelo Russell

INJURY REPORT

Rockets: G/F Thabo Sefolosha (illness) is listed as doubtful. G Eric Gordon (R knee arthroscopic surgery), G/F Gerald Green (L Cuneiform fracture), C Nene Hilario (L adductor strain) are listed as out.

Warriors: F/G Glenn Robinson III (R ankle sprain) is listed as probable. G Ky Bowman (G-League assignment), G Stephen Curry (L hand fracture), C/F Kevon Looney (L abdominal soreness) and G Klay Thompson (R ACL rehab) are listed as out.

ROTATION OUTLOOK

Rockets: Harden is chasing Stephen Curry’s single-season record of 402 3-pointers. He has 153 thus far, the most in NBA history through the first 30 games. He is 46-of-100 (46.0 percent) from deep over his last seven games ... Westbrook has scored at least 20 points in eight consecutive games, averaging 29.1 ppg over that span. Of particular note is his 50.0-pct. shooting from the field, including a respectable 36.4 pct. from deep ... Tucker, usually is money firing 3-balls from the corners, has been slumping. He shot 31.1 pct. over the last nine games, after a searing 48.6-pct. over the previous nine games ... After struggling through most of his first six NBA seasons, G Ben McLemore may be finding his place. In the role of Sixth Man, he’s averaging 10.4 ppg and 23.7 mpg. He’s shooting 36.4 pct from beyond the arc ... The Rockets have built double-digit leads in all but five games this season, going 20-5 in those contests ... They have won their last six road games.

Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr often talks of rewarding players who are performing well, which is explains his decision to give Burks his second start in three weeks on Monday. Burks has been the team’s most proficient scorer of late, reaching double figures in 13 consecutive games, averaging 17.5 ppg during that span ... Rookie F Eric Paschall is averaging 7.3 ppg and 11.6 mpg in three games off the bench since returning after a two-game absence due to hip soreness ... Cauley-Stein has 12 blocks in his last six games and at least one block in 20 of the last 23 ... The purpose of listing two-way rookie G Ky Bowman as “out” is to save his NBA days. He’s up to 32 days of service, giving the Warriors 13 more before he reaches the limit ... The Warriors have been on Christmas Day slate in eight of the past nine seasons, posting a 4-4 record, never winning or losing two in a row. They took a 127-101 loss to the Lakers in 2018.

Officials: David Guthrie (crew chief), Tony Brown, Dedric Taylor.

Contact Us