Raptors at Rockets
THE STORY: It was a quiet All-Star break for the Raptors, who failed to have a member of the team partake in the festivities for the first time in franchise history. Perhaps the break gave Toronto opportunity to prepare for Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets. It hasn’t won in Houston in four seasons, with the home team winning the last eight meetings. That is good for the Rockets, who are 14-4 inside the Toyota Center.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN (Raptors), FS Houston (Rockets)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (10-23): While it’s hard for Raptors fans to find a positive with star scorer Andrea Bargnani still out with a calf injury and the team stuck in the Atlantic Division basement, the recent play of small forward DeMar DeRozan is encouraging. DeRozan seems to be putting the scoring load on his back, averaging more than 25 points in the three games before the break. Toronto has been waiting for him to produce like this all season as he is averaging only 15.7 points on the year.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (20-14): Despite the lack of a true go-to guy, Houston has hung tough in the West, winning 17 of its last 24 games to sit tied for fifth in the conference standings. It has been a total team effort, with first-year coach Kevin McHale constantly juggling his starting lineup and leaning on his bench for big minutes. Houston’s reserves have averaged 34 points in the first half of the schedule, with 11 players averaging five or more points per night.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Toronto has been rumored to be the key to a three-team deal that would send Dwight Howard from Orlando to the Los Angeles Lakers. Veteran guard Jose Calderon is being thrown around in those rumors.
2. Houston can make a run up the conference standings with seven of its 10 games out of the break coming against teams with records below .500.
3. The Rockets lead the all-time series 18-13, with the teams splitting their last 10 meetings.