A Tale of Two Rivers: Doc, Austin Differ on Father-Son Matchup

The Rockets' matchup against the Clippers on Wednesday will be just like any other game for Austin Rivers, even considering the unique circumstances for Houston's guard.

Rivers is the fourth player in NBA history to play while his dad is the opposing team's coach, though Doc Rivers' presence doesn't seem to have any impact on his son's performance.

"Is it weird playing against him? What's the difference?" Austin Rivers said at the Toyota Center on Tuesday. "It's not special, man, oh my god it's not that special."

Perhaps Austin is a bit jaded after squaring off against his dad in five NBA seasons, not including the pair's four-year stint together in Los Angeles from 2014-18. But Doc noted his slight sentimentality toward the subject on Wednesday.

"It's always special whenever you see your son on the floor," Doc Rivers said. "It's different, obviously coaching against him than coaching him. ...You just know you want to win, just like he told me last night. "

Austin faced his dad three times last season, twice with Washington and once with the Rockets. He got the last laugh to close 2018-19 in an April win at the Staples Center, scoring 11 points in a 135-103 Rockets victory.

The younger Rivers and the Rockets will look to win their first matchup with the Clippers in 2019-20 on Wednesday. Tip-off from the Toyota Center in Houston is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET.