Houston finally ushers in the new season on Saturday

Houston Rockets will finally begin their 2020-21 season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.

After the Houston Rockets’ first game of the season against Oklahoma City Thunder got postponed due to a lack of available players, they will finally begin their 2020-21 campaign on Saturday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the tickets will be travelling to Portland with a total of nine players, which is only one more than the required minimum. Although they will technically have enough number of players against the Trail Blazers, Houston will definitely be short-handed, as they still have six players listed as our because of NBA’s Covid-19 regulations.

On Saturday night, big man James Harden will be allowed to play for the Rockets against the Trail Blazers, but many of his teammates will not be. Earlier this week, rookie forward Kenyon Martin Jr. and Ben McLemore tested positive for Covid-19. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Mason Jones are out after each received a seven-day quarantine.

Earlier this week, Harden was fined $50,000 by the league for violating the health and safety protocols after videos started circulating of him at a party without a mask. The protocols put in place by the league prohibit players and team personnel from going to any restaurants, bars or clubs.

Other than Houston’s health issues, Harden’s trade request is still lingering over the franchise. The former MVP had made it abundantly clear that he no longer wants to be a Rocket. With two years still remaining on his current contract, his future lies in the hands of Houston.