Rockets at Bobcats
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets gets another chance at winning their first road game at Charlotte. Not only are the Rockets 0-5 away from home, they haven't even been competitive and coach Kevin McHale isn't happy about it. “Everybody’s got an excuse,” he said. “You have to go out there and do it. You don’t make excuses. I’m tired of that. Sometimes you have to play hard, just try harder, play harder, compete harder. That’s what it takes.” The Bobcats have lost three in a row after dropping a 91-87 decision at New York on Monday. D.J. Augustin missed a 3-pointer from the corner that would have tied the game with 3.7 seconds left. “The last play of the game we got a wide-open shot from our best 3-point shooter,” coach Paul Silas said. “So I can’t fault us at all for the effort.” Charlotte hasn't won since defeating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 4.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston (Houston), Sports South Charlotte (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (2-6): Houston has lost its last four games. The first three defeats came on the road by an average of 16.7 points. The Rockets gave a better showing in a 98-95 home loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday, but the losing streak continued. Goran Dragic scored 20 points and had eight assists in his first start of the season. Luis Scola had a season-high 28 points and seven rebounds while Kevin Martin had 16 points.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (2-7): Charlotte opened a stretch of five games in six nights Monday. Returning to Time Warner Cable Arena might not be the answer since Charlotte is 1-3 at home, where it plays four of its next five games. Boris Diaw, who scored two points with two rebounds Saturday against Indiana, bounced back Monday. He had 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but the Bobcats shot 41 percent and committed 17 turnovers.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split their two meetings last season with each winning on its home court.
2. Kyle Lowry, Houston's starting point guard, missed the last two games with a bruised right foot.
3. Augustin scored 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field Monday.