Basketball is a super complicated game. Analytics have taken the sports from “put ball in hoop and stop other team from putting ball in hoop” to “leverage help defense around the nail to prevent penetration and kickouts to below-the-break threes.”
There are a variety of strategies still to this day. The Houston Rockets utilize a double-big approach (when healthy) to secure offensive rebounds and get more possessions. Other teams gamble for more steals, look to get to the free throw line, or jack up as many threes as humanly possible.
And sometimes, the game really is as simple as James Naismith made it out to be with the peach baskets.
If Houston shoots better than 22% from deep, 37% from the field, and/or 69% from the free throw line, they have the talent to beat the Portland Trail Blazers. Houston will still have to defend at a high level (and maybe get off to a good start?), but tonight will just be about scoring more points than the Blazers. That’s it.
Tip-off
9pm CT on January 9, 2026
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Alperen Sengun: OUT
Blazers
Kris Murray: OUT
Jrue Holiday: GTD
Jerami Grant: OUT
Matisse Thybulle: OUT
Scoot Henderson: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
Hou -5.5
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Sunday night in Sacramento against the Kings
