Rockets at 76ers
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets look to continue their late push for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The Rockets have won six of their last seven games to close within two games of eighth-place Memphis with eight games left. The 76ers, coming off a stunning victory at Chicago on Monday night, appears to be a lock for a playoff berth in the East. The only question is whether the Sixers can maintain their two-game lead over New York for the No. 6 spot.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSH, CSP
ABOUT THE 76ERS (38-36): Philadelphia followed up one of its worst efforts of the season with perhaps its biggest victory, building a 23-point lead and holding off a late rally for a 97-85 win at Eastern Conference-leading Chicago on Monday. It was a shocking result, given that the Bulls had won 14 straight home games and slaughtered the Sixers by 45 points in December, while Philadelphia had absorbed a 114-111 home overtime loss to Sacramento 24 hours earlier. Thaddeus Young scored 21 points and Andre Iguodala added 19 as the Sixers had six players in double figures.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (39-35): Houston made it six wins in seven games with a 112-87 rout at New Jersey on Tuesday night. The only loss in that stretch was a six-point setback at Miami on Sunday. Point guard Kyle Lowry, whose status was in question due to a sore foot, scored 14 of his 16 points in the opening quarter as the Rockets built a 13-point lead and steadily pulled away. Kevin Martin added 20 points for Houston, which is 13-4 in its last 17 games.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Take away his dud vs. Sacramento in which he scored four points on 2-of-11 shooting and Young has been on a roll. In his other four games during the last five, he has averaged 17.9 points on 32-of-51 shooting. ... Martin’s 20-point game against New Jersey was his worst in the last eight games. He is averaging 28.5 points in his last five contests. ... Lowry is averaging 20.4 points and 10.0 assists during the same stretch.
KEY STATISTIC: Houston is the league’s second-highest scoring team at 106.0 points per game. Since Feb. 1, the Rockets have failed to reach 100 points six times – and are 6-0 in those games.
SEASON SERIES: The Sixers outlasted the Rockets in Houston, 114-105, on Feb. 16 for their sixth win in the last seven meetings. Jrue Holiday scored 20 points to lead seven players in double figures for Philadelphia. Lowry had 36 points for the Rockets.
KEY INJURIES: HOUSTON: G Kyle Lowry (ankle). PHILADELPHIA: C Tony Battie (flu); F Thaddeus Young (groin).
LAST WORD: "This is huge. The last time we came in this building, they beat us by 45. We couldn't let them do it again." – Young after Monday’s win at Chicago.