Warriors at Rockets
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets saw their grip on a playoff spot slipping away Tuesday and did something about it, overcoming a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers. The Western conference is so tightly packed that the eighth-place Rockets are two games out of the No. 4 spot and only 2½ games ahead of the No. 11 team. The Golden State Warriors are slipping further and further away.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (Warriors), FS Houston (Rockets)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (19-25): After an ugly scene at home Monday had the fans loudly booing ownership, Golden State took off on a two-game road trip. The fans, angry about years of playoff misses but specifically about the recent trade of Monta Ellis, took their frustrations out during a halftime ceremony honoring Chris Mullin. The results of that trade won’t be fully realized until Andrew Bogut suits up for the team next season, but it did open a spot for Klay Thompson. The rookie from Washington State moved into Ellis’ starting spot and has averaged 20.0 points in the last six games, up from a season mark of 9.2. The 6-foot-7 swingman went for a career-high 27 points Wednesday to lead the Warriors to a 101-92 victory over New Orleans. That snapped a four-game slide. Golden State beat Houston 106-97 in Oakland on Feb. 12 behind 33 points and seven assists from Ellis. Stephen Curry, who remains out with a foot injury and is unlikely to play Thursday, scored 14 in that one while Thompson added 14 off the bench.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (25-22): Houston has dropped eight of its last 12 games but can be encouraged by its latest performance. Playing again without point guard Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic picked up the slack with 16 points and 13 assists and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer down the stretch to help complete the comeback against the Lakers. The starting backcourt of Lowry and Kevin Martin (shoulder) has given way to Dragic and Courtney Lee for the moment. Martin scored a team-high 28 points in the Feb. 12 meeting with the Warriors but the Rockets struggled on the defensive end, allowing 51 percent shooting. Houston is in the bottom third of the league in points allowed and has surrendered an average of 104.3 points in the last 12 contests. The Rockets will face playoff teams in six of the next seven games after the Warriors leave town.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston has taken eight of the last 10 in the series.
2. Dragic is averaging 11.3 assists over the last four games.
3. Warriors center Andris Biedrins (shoulder) missed Wednesday’s game and is day-to-day.