Knicks at Rockets
Extreme small ball seems to be suiting the Houston Rockets nicely as they climb the standings in the Western Conference. The Rockets will try to push their winning streak to four in a row when they open a two-game homestand by hosting the New York Knicks on Monday.
Houston battled past the Boston Celtics in the final game before the All-Star break and blasted the Golden State Warriors 135-105 on the road Thursday before going into Utah and earning a 120-110 victory Saturday that pushed the team into the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference, ahead of the Jazz based on tiebreakers. "Every game is going to be different," Rockets All-Star James Harden told reporters after scoring 38 points against a variety of defenders on Saturday. "Obviously, every team's scheme is different. If we lock in and are engaged, no matter what they're doing defensively, they can't stop it." The Knicks followed a four-game winning streak with a three-game slide bridging the All-Star break and have been off since dropping a 106-98 decision to the Indiana Pacers at home on Friday. Rookie shooting guard RJ Barrett scored 17 points in the loss and getting Barrett and several other young members of the squad more comfortable at the NBA level is the goal the rest of the way.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, AT&T SportsNet Southwest
ABOUT THE KNICKS (17-39): Veterans like Taj Gibson and Reggie Bullock started on Friday but were held under 20 minutes apiece as interim coach Mike Miller gave the team's former lottery picks longer looks. Point guard Frank Ntilikina, a 21-year-old who was picked No. 8 overall by the team in 2017, logged a team-high 32 minutes on Friday and responded with 14 points - his first game this month in double figures. "Really, the goal for us is just to take it day by day, game after game and try to win each and every game," Ntilikina, who averages 5.9 points and three assists, told reporters.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (36-20): Utah attempted to guard Houston point guard Russell Westbrook with 7-1 reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert on Saturday, and Westbrook responded with 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting. "I get what I want, get whatever I want," Westbrook told reporters. "Get to the basket and shoot, drive and kick, pace and speed. It's something you can't scout for. You can scout moves, you can scout for all that, but speed you can't scout for. And that's what I've got to my advantage." Saturday's outburst marked the 13th time in the last 16 games that Westbrook scored 30 or more points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Rockets SG Ben McLemore is 7-of-8 from 3-point range over the last two games.
2. Knicks C Mitchell Robinson (ankle) sat out practice on Saturday and is day-to-day.
3. Houston owns a seven-game winning streak in the series.