The Spurs host the Houston Rockets tonight for the opening game of the NBA Emirate Cup Group Play.
After finishing last season with a 52-30 record and securing 2nd place in the Western Conference, the Rockets made a bold move by acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. Durant, a 4-time scoring champion, has already made a significant impact, helping Houston lead offensively despite missing veteran guard Fred VanVleet due to an ACL injury before the season began.
The Rockets' core includes young talents like Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Turkish center Alperen Sengun. The team is currently riding a five-game winning streak, showing strong potential with this new lineup.
The Spurs return home to the Frost Bank Center after a brief and challenging road trip out west that resulted in their first two losses of the season. These early setbacks highlight the growing pains the team is experiencing as they strive to regain relevance in the NBA.
"If anything, it was a reminder that this team still has some growing pains to go through in their quest for NBA relevancy."
Author's summary: The Rockets, boosted by Kevin Durant, aim to extend their winning streak against a Spurs squad facing early-season challenges on home court.