Thunder at Rockets
THE STORY: Returning home from a six-game, 11-day road trip should provide a natural boost for the Houston Rockets. Their first opponent won't make it easy for the Rockets to continue their success at the Toyota Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the best record in the league, will visit Houston on Wednesday night looking to extend their winning streak over the Rockets to five games. That includes a sweep of a home-and-home last month, one of only three losses at Toyota Center for Houston.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSOK, FSH
ABOUT THE THUNDER (22-6): Only Chicago has more road wins than Oklahoma City (12), which will return home for its next five games heading into the All-Star break. The Thunder completed a sweep of Utah with a blowout win Tuesday, allowing their star players to rest. Russell Westbrook was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, beating out teammate Kevin Durant. Forward Serge Ibaka had a pair of double-doubles against the Jazz, including 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks Tuesday.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (16-13): Leading scorer Kevin Martin appeared to snap out of his doldrums when he scored 28 points at Golden State on Sunday. Not so fast. Martin was held scoreless for the first time since April 2006 in Tuesday’s loss at Memphis. He has scored four points or less in four of his last six games. Point guard Kyle Lowry was the only starter in double figures Tuesday, scoring 19 of his 24 points in the second half.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Oklahoma City has scored at least 100 points in 10 of its last 11 games.
2. Westbrook averaged 30 points, six rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals in four games last week to earn Western Conference honors.
3. Rockets reserve guard Courtney Lee has scored in double figures in five straight, averaging 12 points during that span.