Houston Rockets vs. Toronto Raptors Preview: How to Watch, Injury Reports, Lineups, More

Date: Friday, Feb. 9
Time: 6 p.m.
TV Channel: Space City Home Network
Radio: 790 AM
Live Stream: League Pass

After a 0-2 start, the Houston Rockets will try to win their first of a four-game road trip Friday night against the Toronto Raptors.

Coty M. Davis | Feb 9, 2024

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets will continue their four-game road trip Friday night during an interconference match against the Toronto Raptors. After a quiet trade deadline day, the Rockets will return to the court with the same team that left Indiana following a 132-129 defeat inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

With Fred VanVleet sidelined due to a left adductor strain, rookie Amen Thompson started in his absence and had his most impactful game. He finished with a near triple-double of 13 points (6 of 13 FG), 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks — proving that the Rockets have a prominent two-way star.

"I felt good out there for my second start," Thompson said. "I felt defensively I was playing really hard. Offensively, the team was trying to push the pace, and I felt like we did a good job but could not get the win."

Thompson will start the second consecutive game in place of the injured VanVleet. However, the Raptors will look slightly different from the team that fell 135-106 to the Rockets a week ago.

The Raptors made a pair of trades Thursday afternoon. And now, they are coming into the Scotiabank Arena a bit short-handed. However, the Raptors still have first-time All-Star Scottie Barnes, who scored 28 points in the Raptors' blowout loss in Houston on Feb. 2.