Rockets at Warriors
THE STORY: Houston has shown it has plenty in reserve in winning three consecutive road games. Now the Rockets need help from their starters when they play the fifth of a six-game trip at Golden State on Sunday. Houston’s reserves outscored Phoenix’s bench 57-13 in a 96-89 victory Thursday – one night after scoring 66 in a win at Portland. Golden State should be well-rested after earning a 109-101 victory over Denver on Thursday. Stephen Curry had his best game of the season with a season-high 36 points on 13-of-17 shooting.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Houston, CS Bay Area
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (16-11): Houston has not gotten much out of leading scorer Kevin Martin on this trip. He has scored 16 points in four games and missed 21 of 26 shots. If Martin can make a transition anywhere, it should be in Oakland. He has averaged 28.3 points in his last six games at Oracle Arena, and scored a career-high 50 on April 1, 2009. Martin averaged 29.3 points in four meetings against the Warriors last season.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (9-14): The Warriors have not had much trouble scoring, averaging 99 points for fourth-best in the NBA. But they also have allowed 100.9, the worst in the league. Their road win in Denver was the first in five tries against a Western Conference team and featured 14 blocks, the most they have had since Nov. 29, 2006. “Don't just say it, you've got to do it,” Curry said of coach Mark Jackson’s halftime speech at Denver.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston has won 12 of 13 against Golden State, and six of seven at Oracle Arena.
2. Golden State will not have a representative at the All-Star Game for the 11th consecutive season.
3. Warriors rookie Klay Thompson is shooting 71.4 percent (15 of 21) from the field this month.