'Thunders vs Rockets': How to live stream, time, venue, where to watch and all the pre-buzz around the NBA playoff tussle
"Houston, we got a problem". Cheesy? Yes. Serious? Damn straight. It will not be an easy opening for The Rockets when they face-off against Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs 2020 on Tuesday, August 18. This has been dubbed as the series that will see the intensity between the two teams hitting the roof. There's history too. Chris Paul was let go by Houston last season and he saw that Oklahoma City actually thundered their way to an impressive 44-28 overall record.
It is interesting to see if the Rockets will be reeling from the 134-96 thrashing from the Philadelphia 76ers, while Oklahoma City too will be keen to shrug off the loss against Clippers. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game.
Time
The game is scheduled to start at 6.30 pm ET on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.
Venue
The tip-off will happen at the HP Field House, Disney World, Orlando.
Where to watch?
The game can be watched live on TNT. AT&T SportsNet Southwest will be the other network to catch the game live.
How to live stream?
NBA TV is the easiest and most preferred option. YouTube TV is the second most looked at as it provides access to ESPN, TNT, ABC, and NBA TV, as well as a good amount of regional sports networks, including those linked to Fox and NBC. Priced at $64.99, it comes across as a complete package. Other options include Sling TV and FuboTV that can be availed at reasonable prices.
Pre-match buzz
There's history. Yes, we know. However, as far as the game goes, Chris Paul and James Harden will be the players to watch for. 'The Beard' has been terrific for Houston. Steven Adams will be returning for the clash for Thunder and their three-guard lineup of Paul, Dennis Shroder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be difficult to contain once they pick up steam.
Who will win?
This one's a toughie. Both sides have their pros and cons, but the Rockets have been on a different level despite the failure against the 76ers. We're calling that loss an aberration and hoping the Rockets will have lift off.