The Houston Rockets (0-2) and the Golden State Warriors (1-1) are meeting Sunday night to settle a score that has dragged on for years. The rivals have a long history of meeting each other at crucial points during the playoffs. For instance, in the 2017-18 season, the Warriors had a fantastic start to the season, but they faltered in February and lost ground to the Rockets for the top spot. If we trace it back a little further, the 2014-15 season was a great year for both teams. In the conference finals, these two rising contenders squared up in a matchup of the best in the West. However, the Warriors easily defeated the Rockets, taking the series 4-1.

These are just a few instances of the two’s constant clashes, but Sunday’s showdown is definitely one that will be full of surprises and treats for the fans. The Warriors are coming off a 108-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns and a 122-114 win against the Sacramento Kings. Their third game of the season will be against their longtime rival the Rockets, who had a rough start to the season with a 116 – 86 loss to the Orlando Magic, and another loss at 126 – 122 against the San Antonio Spurs. As the two biggest rivals in the Western Conference gear up for their face-off, let us go through what to expect from the lineups.

For the Warriors, Draymond Green is back

Good news for the Warriors fans, Draymond Green, who was out for the entire preseason games and the season starters due to an ankle injury will make a comeback on Sunday night against the Rockets. His return will definitely boost the offensive power of the Warriors. Fans are expecting to see Draymond and the ‘Splash Brothers‘ Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to create magic on the court.

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However, there is a high probability that we won’t be seeing much of Stephen Curry due to his left foot soreness. Apart from this, the Warriors are all up and running to head off against the Rockets.

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Now that Draymond is back, new Warriors recruit Chris Paul might have to step down as a starter. However, his ball distribution and tight defense are the ones to look out for. The starting lineups for the Warriors are projected to be Curry, Draymond, Thompson, Kevon Looney, and Andrew Wiggins.

Rockets traded in some veteran players to revamp the team

The Rockets, on the other hand, are coming off the season with two losses, and it is about time they make a statement. Their loss to Orlando was an embarrassing one, with such a wide gap in the scores. While they had a chance to redeem themselves against the Spurs, they had a narrow loss. The Rockets had revamped the team by bringing in veteran players like Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Victor Oladipo to join their young talents. In another big move made by the Rockets, they brought in Head Coach Ime Udoka during the summer.

Forward Tari Eason will be out due to a left lower leg stress that also made him sit out at the preseason games. Accompanying him on the bench will be Jock Landale, who suffered a concussion during the game against Orlando. Another probable player is Nate Hinton, who sat out the game against the Spurs due to a right ankle sprain. Injuries aside, the opening players for the Rockets are projected to be Jalen Green, VanVleet, Brooks, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr.

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This game is a long time coming and while the Rockets vs Warriors rivalry might not be as intense as before, the fans’ anticipation and excitement are still through the roof. This game will be a chance for the Rockets to redeem themselves after a very rocky start to their season. Meanwhile, the Warriors will also use this opportunity to prove to their long-time rivals that they are still on top.

So, who do you think has a higher chance of winning this game? Let us know.