Rockets at Lakers
James Harden has emerged from a slump to score at least 35 points in three straight games as the Houston Rockets prepare for Thursday's road game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden is averaging 38.3 points during Houston's three-game winning streak after averaging just 15 over his previous two appearances.
Harden produced 40 points and 11 assists in Tuesday's 125-110 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets and the team is hoping point guard Russell Westbrook (thumb) will return for the showdown against the Lakers. "It was a tough game, one of those where after a couple of emotional games we get one without Russell and have to head to L.A. for the next game, so this was kind of a trap game where they could get you," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "But they understood what they were risking and came out after halftime and did the job." The Lakers posted a resounding 129-102 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday as LeBron James made a season-high-tying six 3-pointers while recording 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The Lakers had a 58-28 edge on the boards and scored 78 second-half points while winning for the second straight time after experiencing a 3-4 stretch.
TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, TSN1
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (32-18): Harden seems to be back in form after making 23-of-50 shots over the past two games, the 46-percent clip rating much higher than his January accuracy rate of 35.5. Harden also had 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals and knocked down 14-of-15 free-throw attempts as he registered his 18th 40-point outing of the season. Shooting guard Eric Gordon scored 16 points but was just 6-of-22 shooting and missed all 12 of his 3-point attempts.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (38-11): James made five straight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the long-range shooting show impressed power forward Anthony Davis and led to an impromptu celebration after the fifth one. "When the guy gets hot like that, it's always fun to watch him," Davis said afterward. "It wasn't the plan. We all just kind of ran over there and jumped on him." Davis and forward Kyle Kuzma (12 rebounds) each tallied 18 points to complement James.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers won the past two meetings after losing 17 of the previous 20 matchups.
2. Los Angeles backup C Dwight Howard recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Spurs and reached double figures on the boards in nine of the past 13 contests.
3. Reports have Houston dealing C Clint Capela as part of a four-team deal that would bring Minnesota Timberwolves PF Robert Covington to the Rockets prior to Thursday's trading deadline.