Rockets at Mavericks
The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are battling for playoff positioning as they face each other on Friday in the restart of the NBA season near Orlando. The Rockets are tied for fifth place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Mavericks are just 1 1/2 games out in seventh place.
Dallas has thrived this season behind star point guard Luka Doncic, and big man Kristaps Porzingis is looking forward to his club making a playoff dash. "Our excitement level is going to go a few levels up now," Porzingis told reporters. "I think we're ready to go. We know we're going to be able to do some things just because we can score the ball, and I think we've got to catch ourselves in those moments and just come out ready." The Rockets may need some time to find their stride as point guard Russell Westbrook is still working his way into shape after testing positive for COVID-19. Shooting guard James Harden leads the NBA with a 34.4 scoring average and is on his way to his third straight scoring title.
TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, AT&T SportsNet, FS Southwest
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (40-24): Veteran guard Eric Gordon will miss at least two weeks after injuring his left ankle during a scrimmage earlier this week. "Of course, Eric is a huge part of what we're doing and what we're trying to do," Harden told reporters. "Hopefully he can get his ankle healed as soon as possible, but just like we've dealt with adversity all year, it's about having guys step up." Danuel House and Ben McLemore are in line for increased playing time with one of them expected to start in Houston's small-lineup configuration.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (40-27): Dallas is still trying to sort out its fifth starter and the guard-oriented attack of the Rockets could mean Seth Curry will get the call. Porzingis and Dorian Finney-Smith are the frontcourt starters and Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. the backcourt pair, making Curry (20 starts this season) seem like the right fit. "Anything's possible," Carlisle told reporters while saying he won't discuss lineup particulars. "Seth's been very effective as a starter and coming off the bench. We'll keep looking at what we're doing."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Harden averaged 33.5 points as the teams split two meetings earlier this season while Doncic scored 41 points in his lone appearance, a Dallas victory.
2. Houston G Austin Rivers, who recently returned from tending to a family matter, is available to play in the opener.
3. Doncic scored at least 30 points -- including two 40-point performances -- in 10 of his 14 triple-doubles.