3. Jan. 19 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
While the majority of the country will have its sights set on the opening matchup between the Rockets and Lakers in mid-October, the third showdown between the two foes could actually make for the best game of the year.
On Jan. 19, LeBron James will seek to lead a revamped Los Angeles squad into battle against Houston, helping kick off NBA Saturday Primetime action on ABC.
Although no one knows exactly how competitive the new-look Lakers roster will be around James, this mid-January matchup will likely give fans a solid clue, as most teams across the league will be looking to kick things into another gear with the playoffs soon approaching.
Should the Rockets have a strong desire to make yet another run in the Western Conference, then sending a message to The King and his new cast mates would make for a powerful one, as taking down the purple and gold in their penultimate contest could work wonders for Houston’s confidence the rest of the way.