Tonight starts a two-game set between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. Both games will take place at the Moda Center (aka The Rose Garden).<\/p>\n
Houston already had one of these \u201ctwo games in the same arena\u201d thing with the Utah Jazz, and it went about how these usually do: either there\u2019s a split or the home team sweeps (with the first game usually a blowout and the second a tough, close win). Players have too much pride to get between twice in a row by the same team when the difference is just effort. It\u2019s only when the talent difference is vast that a team has a shot at both games.<\/p>\n
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The Blazers have Deni Avidja, who might have had a solid case before for the All-Star game, but certainly with the new rules feels like a shoe-in. He\u2019s currently higher in fan voting than either Kevin Durant or Alperen Sengun.<\/p>\n
Portland is on a three-game winning streak, which includes wins over the Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Pelicans. For reference, Houston is 1-3 against those teams.<\/p>\n
Tip-off<\/p>\n
9pm CT on January 7, 2026<\/p>\n
How To Watch<\/p>\n
Space City Home Network<\/p>\n
Injury ReportRockets<\/p>\n
Alperen Sengun: OUT<\/p>\n
Blazers<\/p>\n
Kris Murray: GTD<\/p>\n
Jrue Holiday: OUT<\/p>\n
Jerami Grant: OUT<\/p>\n
Matisse Thybulle: OUT<\/p>\n
Scoot Henderson: OUT<\/p>\n
The Line (as of this post)<\/p>\n
Hou -5.5<\/p>\n