Rockets are NBA Cup contenders after reaching quarterfinal

Driving the news: The Rockets will host the Warriors at the Toyota Center.

• Tickets start at $15. Tip off is 8:30pm.

Catch up quick: Houston is 16-8 this season and third in the Western Conference, a positive start for a team that's been rebuilding for the last few years.

• The offense is clicking — guard Jalen Green leads the team with an average 19.5 points per game, and center Alperen Sengun has notched 16 double-doubles, tied for sixth-most in the NBA — while the defense is making critical stops, insiders say.

How it works: In the past month, teams have been playing games that counted toward a spot in the tournament and their overall record.

• The top eight teams play Tuesday and Wednesday, whittling the field down to four teams for the semifinals this weekend. The championship game is Dec. 17.
• The semifinal and final rounds will be played in Las Vegas.

Flashback: The Rockets haven't beaten the Warriors since February 2020, when guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook headlined the team and Golden State star Steph Curry was out with a fractured hand.

• Curry, who's been dealing with injuries this season, is likely to suit up for the Warriors on Wednesday.

The intrigue: Each player on the team that wins the NBA Cup will get $500,000, per Sports Illustrated.

The bottom line: Regardless of how Wednesday's game turns out, the season of "high expectations" for the Rockets remains well underway.