Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets looks on before Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on April 30, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesThe early start time for Game 5 of the Warriors-Rockets series had a serious impact on the crowd in Houston, with hundreds, and more likely thousands, of seats still vacant at tip-off.
The first two games in Houston were 8:30 p.m. tip times in Houston, but Wednesday’s game started at 6:30 p.m. local time. Right out of the gates, the thing that stood out the most was just how many seats were empty at tip-off.