Rockets' top offensive rebounding meets a fast Hawks pace in Atlanta

The Houston Rockets (52-30 last season), the league's best offensive rebounding team, visit the Atlanta Hawks (46-36), who play at one of the NBA's fastest paces, Saturday, October 24, at 8:30 PM ET.

Records and ranks are from last season; rosters are this season's.

Houston grabbed 34.8% of its own misses, first in the league. Atlanta ranked 20th on the offensive glass at 24.4%. The Hawks were ninth at 74.5% on the defensive boards, the same figure as Houston, so every Rockets miss becomes a contested rebound.

Pace sets the second tension. Houston played at 98.2 possessions per game, 29th in the league, while Atlanta ran at 103.3, seventh. The Rockets also posted the fifth-best defensive rating at 110.8, and the Hawks' offensive rating of 114.2 ranked 14th.

Kevin Durant averaged 26 points on 52% shooting in 78 games last season. Alperen Sengun added 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in 72 games. Dyson Daniels averaged two steals a game, and the Hawks forced turnovers at the sixth-best rate in the league.

Houston guard Reed Sheppard, who played 26.2 minutes a game, is out, though the report lists Saturday as his expected return. Atlanta is without Mouhamed Gueye (out, 15.3 minutes) and Henri Veesaar (out, 12 minutes).

Both teams have started this season with wins. Atlanta beat Charlotte 128-81 on the road and Orlando 132-125. Houston beat Dallas 128-110 at home and San Antonio 114-110 on the road.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Hawks a 52% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, gives the Rockets a 55% chance.