Hornets at Rockets
Houston star guard James Harden appears out of his slump after scoring 35 and 40 points in back-to-back games. Harden will look to keep the productive games going when the Rockets host the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
Harden scored 18 or fewer points in four of his previous nine appearances before regaining his shooting stroke while making 13-of-29 3-pointers in victories over the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. "James is James, so we can put all that other stuff to rest because he seems like he's back," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters of Harden, who connected on just 69-of-210 shots (32.9 percent) from the field over 10 appearances before breaking out. Charlotte has lost three straight games and 11 of its last 12 after dropping a 112-100 decision to the visiting Orlando Magic on Monday. "I think there were a lot of positives," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters afterward. "It came down to making shots. They had a showing from the (3-point line) that got them the win."
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBATV Canada
ABOUT THE HORNETS (16-34): Point guard Terry Rozier scored 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting against Orlando as he bounced back from having just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in Saturday's 114-90 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. But Rozier was just 2-of-8 from 3-point range against the Magic as Charlotte was 9-of-31 overall while Orlando was knocking down 16-of-34. "We lost the 3-point line by 21 points and that was the difference," Borrego said.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (31-18): Point guard Russell Westbrook (sprained left thumb) is doubtful to play against the Hornets, according to D'Antoni. Westbrook apparently suffered the injury during Sunday's 117-109 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans when he scored 22 points for his 23rd consecutive 20-point effort. Shooting guard Eric Gordon had just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting against New Orleans and is averaging 11.3 points while making 12-of-35 shots in three games since erupting for a career-best 50 against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 27.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Rockets have won six straight meetings and 16 of the past 17.
2. Charlotte rookie PF PJ Washington (ankle) could miss his third straight contest.
3. Houston C Clint Capela (heel) will sit out for the fourth time in five games.