Houston Rockets: 3 must-win games in the month of December

1. Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs — Dec. 15

Over the last two decades, the San Antonio Spurs have proven that they can win games no matter who plays in their lineup, and hang competitively in close contests, even without the services of Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker for most of this season.

The team currently sits third in the Western Conference standings, and still boasts one of the top all-around attacks in the game under head coach Gregg Popovich.

LaMarcus Aldridge leads the Spurs in both scoring and rebounds through the first 26 games of the season, with 21.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Rudy Gay has managed to step up in Leonard’s absence and become one of the league’s top Sixth Man candidates, averaging 12.3 points per game while managing to shoot 47.6 percent from the field in his first season down in the Alamo City.

While many basketball fans might wonder when San Antonio’s fall from prominence will ever come, Father Time does not appear to be on the horizon anytime soon.

Since Parker’s return in late November, the Spurs have managed to win six out of their last seven games, pulling out victories against the likes of the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons by 8.3 points per game. They are also on the verge of getting their best player back for the first time this season.

Next: 2017-18 Week 8 NBA Power Rankings

If Kawhi Leonard is in the starting lineup for San Antonio on Dec. 15, then this game becomes all the more significant for the Rockets, as this I-10 rivalry matchup could play a vital factor in how the Western Conference playoff picture shapes out come season’s end.