Rockets vs. Hawks Preview: How to Watch, Injury Reports, More

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 19
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV Channel: AT&amp;T SportsNet
Radio: 790 AM
Live Stream: League Pass

The Houston Rockets will open their 2022-23 campaign Wednesday night during a road match against the Atlanta Hawks.

Coty M. Davis | Oct 19, 2022

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ATLANTA — The Houston Rockets will play the first of 82 games against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night. The interconference match inside State Farm Arena will mark the first road contest of the 2022-23 season for the Rockets.

The Hawks and Rockets split their two-game series last season, with Houston winning their previous match-up in Atlanta on Dec. 13. The Hawks won their season finale over the Rockets inside the Toyota Center on April 10. Jalen Green scored a career-best 41 points in the loss.

"The energy is way better, and there is more togetherness this year," Green said. "Everyone here is excited to go into this season. We have a good team, and this will be a great battle tomorrow."

All-Star point guard Trae Young dominated the Rockets last season. He averaged 34.5 points, 10.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds across a pair of games against Houston.

The Rockets will see the return of Jabari Smith Jr., who is returning from a two-week absence due to an ankle injury. Smith's official NBA debut will mark a homecoming for the Atlanta native.

"It makes it more special," Smith said. "Going back home for the first game where it all started, so many hours I put in that city, getting the career started the right way."