1. Houston Rockets Back on the Court for Preseason Opener

Houston Rockets Back on the Court for Preseason OpenerHouston Rockets Back on the Court for Preseason Opener The Houston Rockets tipped off their preseason campaign on Monday night, taking on the Indiana Pacers in their home arena. After a tumultuous offseason marked by player departures and coaching changes, the Rockets were eager to showcase their new-look roster. Stephen Silas, who took over as head coach in October 2020, has been tasked with guiding a rebuilding team. The Rockets have lost key players like James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and PJ Tucker over the past year. Despite the absences, the Rockets showed promising signs in their preseason opener. Led by young star Jalen Green, the team played with energy and determination. Green, who averaged 17.3 points per game last season, scored 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Another bright spot was the performance of Kevin Porter Jr., who has been given a bigger role this season. Porter finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Rockets also got solid contributions from their bench. KJ Martin Jr. provided a spark with his athleticism and scored 13 points. Alperen Sengun, a Turkish big man acquired in the Harden trade, showed off his skills with 9 points and 7 rebounds. While the Rockets ultimately lost to the Pacers 117-106, Silas was encouraged by his team’s effort. “I thought we competed hard,” said Silas after the game. “We’re still learning our system and getting used to playing with each other, but I saw some good things tonight.” The Rockets will have another preseason game on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs before opening their regular season on October 20th against the Denver Nuggets.