Rockets at Wizards
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets boast a point guard that has emerged as one of the NBA's most pleasant early-season surprises. The Washington Wizards have a point guard who has been a bit of a surprise, himself - but for all the wrong reasons. Kyle Lowry and John Wall lead teams headed in opposite directions Monday as the Rockets and Wizards do battle in a Monday matinee in Washington. Lowry has been nearly unstoppable during Houston's two-game winning streak, averaging 29 points, nine assists and 7.5 rebounds while playing nearly 45 minutes per game. His performance in a 107-105 overtime triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers was one of the best of the season, as he poured in a team-high 33 points to go with nine helpers and eight boards. His recent work lay in stark contract to what Wall has done at the helm of the woeful Wizards. The second-year point guard is having a dreadful season to date, with his per-game point and assist averages well below what he posted in his rookie campaign. The rest of his team is in disarray, as well, as it comes into this one with just one win through its first 12 games.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston, Comcast SportsNet Washington
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (5-7): Activity on the boards has made the Rockets one of the busiest offensive teams in the league. Houston comes into Monday's game tied for fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game at 12.3, and those second chances have helped the Rockets move to the top of the league in shot attempts (85.5). While they're shooting a mediocre 44.2 percent for the season, the extra shot attempts have allowed Houston to break into the top 10 in scoring at 96 points per game.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-11): A stagnant offense has torpedoed Washington in just about every game this season. They're hitting just over 40 percent of their shots, and their 84.6 scoring average is dead last in the NBA. Yet it's the defense that has veteran swingman Rashard Lewis frustrated. "I've got to trust that somebody's going to be behind me to help me on the defensive end if I go to help the big men on a roll," he said recently. "We gotta trust each other."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Wall has missed all seven of his 3-point attempts this season.
2. Houston has prevailed in eight of their last 10 meetings. The teams split a pair of encounters last season.
3. Monday's game will be a big help to one team's home/road split. The Rockets are 1-6 away from Houston while the Wizards are 1-5 in their own building.