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Rockets at Raptors: Lineups, injury reports, and broadcast info for Friday

ben dubose
·2 min read

The Rockets haven’t lost 10 or more consecutive games in more than 20 years. When they visit the relocated Toronto Raptors (16-17) on Friday night in Tampa, that’s what Houston (11-19) is striving to avoid.

On paper, things aren’t getting easier for the Rockets, who are now 0-9 since losing star center Christian Wood on Feb. 4 to a right ankle sprain. (In the eight games prior to that injury, Houston went 7-1.) As expected, Wood is listed as out and will miss his 10th straight game on Friday.

Veteran guard John Wall expressed frustration about the absence of big men after Houston’s latest loss in Cleveland. If head coach Stephen Silas wants to address that concern, he could opt to give more minutes to recent signing Justin Patton — who played only 12 minutes Wednesday.

Then again, since Toronto doesn’t utilize a traditional center in its starting lineup, perhaps it’s a friendlier matchup for the “small ball” Rockets. Other than Wood, the Rockets are healthier than they’ve been in recent weeks, with veterans Victor Oladipo, Eric Gordon, and PJ Tucker all back in the rotation after missing time with various nagging injuries.

Here’s when you should tune in to see Friday’s game:

  • Date: Friday, Feb. 26

  • Time: 6:30 p.m. Central

  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

  • Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets (11-19)

  • Guard: John Wall

  • Guard: Victor Oladipo

  • Forward: Jae’Sean Tate

  • Forward: Danuel House Jr.

  • Center: PJ Tucker

Toronto Raptors (16-17)

Led by head coach Nick Nurse, the Raptors enter on a two-game losing streak, but they had won four straight and nine of 12 before recent losses to Philadelphia and Miami. They also have no active injuries. Thus, for a Houston squad coming off a 16-point loss to Cleveland — which had lost 10 of 11 games going in — it should be another tough matchup.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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