Rockets at Raptors
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets continue their current five-game road trip Wednesday against host Toronto. Both teams are in action for the third time in four days. Houston is looking to sweep the season series with the Raptors, having won the previous meeting 88-85 last Tuesday at Toyota Center. The Rockets are looking to win their third straight over Toronto and snap a four-game losing streak overall. Houston is playing the second game of a back-to-back.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN (Houston), SNET (Toronto)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (21-18): The Rockets attempted to acquire Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol before the lockout-shortened 2011-12 NBA season began. They were part of a three-team deal with the Lakers and New Orleans Hornets that would have brought Gasol to Houston and sent guard Chris Paul to the Lakers. The deal was denied by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The Rockets will have one more chance to land Gasol before the March 15 trade deadline. Houston is clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the West and according to numerous reports is looking to bolster its roster for the stretch run.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (12-26): After last Tuesday's defeat to the Rockets, guard DeMar DeRozan took to Twitter to vent his frustration. While DeRozan scored 17 points in the first three quarters, head coach Dwane Casey benched him in the fourth quarter. DeRozan tweeted “Straight (BS)” after the contest. He deleted it shortly thereafter, but not quickly enough for his followers not to notice. Casey later told reporters that the situation was dealt with internally. The Raptors have alternated wins and losses the last six games and will still be without center and leading scorer Andrea Bargnani, who’s on the sidelines with a strained left calf.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston is 8-3 against Eastern Conference foes this season.
2. The Rockets, who had been outrebounded in 10 consecutive games, grabbed 57 rebounds to 38 for Boston on Tuesday.
3. Raptors forward Amir Johnson will have his sore knee re-evaluated after Wednesday morning’s shootaround and will be a game-time decision.