Suns at Rockets
The Houston Rockets may never see a more unusual two-game road trip than the one they just played. The Rockets look for a return to normalcy Wednesday night as they kick off a three-game homestand against the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets earned a split away from Houston, handling the conference-leading San Antonio Spurs 112-106 Saturday night before dropping a 109-103 decision to the Utah Jazz, who went into the game with just three wins in their first 18 games.
Topsy-turvy accurately describes the Suns' entire season to date. Phoenix started strong but has stumbled of late and watched a first-half lead evaporate in short order during Monday's 110-91 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. Eric Bledsoe made his return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in his previous two games but looked rusty for most of the night as he settled for nine points on 4-of-13 shooting in nearly 32 minutes.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Phoenix), CSH (Houston)
ABOUT THE SUNS (9-9): Concern has started to mount over the health of fifth overall pick Alex Len, who continues to sit out with ankle issues. The seven-foot-one Ukrainian was eased along in the preseason after undergoing surgery to repair a partial stress fracture, but he has appeared in just four games off the bench as he deals with continued soreness that has once again forced him out of action. Miles Plumlee has fared well in Len's absence, averaging 10.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in just under 31 minutes.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (13-6): After opening the season with the kind of reckless abandon that made him one of the most imposing big men in the league for several seasons, Houston center Dwight Howard has mellowed of late. He hasn't scored more than 15 points in any of his last six games, while reaching double-digit rebounds just twice over that span. The shots are still falling at a high rate - Howard has connected at over 50 percent in each of his previous nine games - and his minutes have been lower than earlier in the season, a tactic Houston may use to keep him rested.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split four meetings a season ago, all within a 37-day span from early-March to mid-April.
2. Howard averages 18.1 points and 12.3 rebounds in 19 career games against the Suns.
3. Phoenix SF Gerald Green has made just one of his last 11 3-point attempts.