On Wednesday, the Houston Rockets (11-4) head to San Francisco to go toe-to-toe with the Golden State (10-9) Warriors in their fourth Emirates NBA Cup game. Both teams come in shorthanded, missing starters and key rotation pieces.
Keep this list handy- these absences are likely to tilt the trajectory of the game entirely.
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Injury Report:
Houston:
Out: Center – Steven Adams (ankle)
Out: Forward – Kevin Durant (personal)
Out: Forward – Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle)
Out: Forward – Tari Eason (hip)
Out: Guard – Fred VanVleet (ACL)
Golden State:
Day-to-day: Center – Draymond Green (foot)
Day-to-day: Forward – Alex Toohey (knee)
Out: Center – Al Horford (sciatica)
Out: Forward – Jonathan Kuminga (knee)
Out: Guard – De’Anthony Melton (knee)
When: Wednesday, November 25 @ 9:00 PM CT
Where: Chase Center
Where to watch:
ESPN
FuboTV (with subscription)
ESPN Unlimited (with subscription)
What stands out immediately is Kevin Durant’s absence, and how drastically it shifts Houston’s offensive identity. Durant is there to draw doubles and collapse defenses, making for easy kickouts, because opponents can’t guard everyone.
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The Rockets have several shooting options around the perimeter, like Josh Okogie, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Aaron Holiday. Without Durant, Golden State can stay locked in on shooters. Their strength lies in perimeter discipline, and they love jumping passing lanes and turning lazy kickouts to quick transition points. Houston can score, but they’ll have to work for it.
The Warriors aren’t strong in the paint, but Adams being out matters more than some might think. Adams is the reason the Rockets survive the non-Şengün minutes. He’s crucial for pulling down boards that lead to those clutch Amen Thompson breakaways and second-chance looks that the Rockets live off of when Şengün is benched. If anyone gets doubled in this game, it’ll be Şengün, which could wear him out, so Adams’ absence is a real problem.
Where Houston can take advantage is pace. Golden State doesn’t have the physical bullying interior team that Denver did last game, and they don’t stop transition as well as they used to. Thompson should be able to make it downhill, and if Sheppard and/or Holiday catch fire early, that could change the game completely.
Smith’s length will matter against Moses Moody and Gary Payton II, who will live off backdoor cuts, especially if Houston falls asleep in the third quarter again. The swing factor will be just that- the Rockets cannot afford a third quarter lapse against the Warriors, especially if Curry starts cooking from deep.
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This won’t be the Rockets’ biggest or even most honest test, but it will be a revealing one- a game that shows who Houston is without their safety valve. Every possession will require control and intention, rather than relying on Durant’s gravity. If the Rockets dominate in this one, it won’t be because they’re healthier or hotter- it’ll be because they’re simply better.
