Rockets away vs. Timberwolves preview: Fear of six consecutive losses! Is the champion sign getting more and more stable?
Although the Rockets currently have a 1-8 record and have suffered five consecutive losses, the young Houston Rockets' starting center so far in 2022-23 is second-year center Alperon Shenkyung, and his performance can be said to be quite good.
So far, the 6-foot-11 big man from Turkey is averaging 27.1 minutes per game, 16.7 and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 56.8 percent from the field, having a season-high 26 points and 13 rebounds in Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Sunday, Shin Kyung traveled to Minnesota for a road game against the Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert for the Rockets. The 7-foot-1 Gobert is known to have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award three times, which has put Shin Kyung to face a tougher test.
Can Sengen continue his elitism? The answer will be revealed for tomorrow's game, but here are the expected starting line-ups and injuries. Unfortunately, the Rockets added to their injury report rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., who will miss the game due to illness.
Houston Rockets (1-8)
Point guard: Kevin Porter Jr
Quarterback: Jaylen Green
Small forward: Eric Gordon
Power forward: Kenyon Martin Jr
Center: Alberen Shenkyung
Minnesota Timberwolves (4-5)
Point guard: Dangelo Russell
Quarterback: Anthony Edwards
Small forward: Jaden McDaniels
Power forward: Carl Anthony Townes
Center: Rudy Gobert
The projected roster is largely based on starters from each team's most recent game, with the Minnesota Timberwolves playing Saturday. Therefore, it should be reasonable that head coach Chris Finch could make some changes in the second game of back-to-back games. For the Houston Rockets, the only change is Martin Jr. replacing Smith (sick) as the starter.
Injury report
The latest injury reports from the Houston Rockets include Jesseon Tate (right ankle soreness), Bruno Fernando (left knee soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. (ill) and Ty Washington (left knee sprain) on Sunday's injury list.
The Timberwolves did not release an injury report until hours before the reveal in Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. In that match, they listed Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards as players who could be absent due to illness, although they both ended up playing.
