Rockets at Raptors
The prospect of having to do without three members of the starting rotation is difficult enough for the Houston Rockets. Doing it on the tail end of a back-to-back makes the task even more daunting as the Rockets travel to Toronto for a date with the Raptors on Wednesday night. The Rockets struggled Tuesday without regular starters Dwight Howard, Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones, ultimately dropping a 105-96 decision to the Brooklyn Nets.
With Beverley (knee) out indefinitely, Howard (back) not expected to play this week and Jones (flu) day-to-day, it's possible the Rockets will be down all three for what should be a difficult matchup with the defensively stout Raptors. Toronto has injury issues of its own, however, with Kyle Lowry's status up in the air. The star point guard left Monday's 93-83 loss in Miami with a knee injury, and he's considered questionable for the Rockets game.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSH (Houston), SNET (Toronto)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (49-24): While it's never ideal for a team to be without its defensive centerpiece, Howard's absence Tuesday opened the door for a sensational effort from Omer Asik. The Turkish big man racked up 12 points and a career-best 23 rebounds in defeat, and has collected a total of 34 boards over his previous two games. James Harden carried the bulk of the scoring burden against the Nets — recording 26 points despite making just four shots from the floor — but didn't get much help.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (42-32): Toronto would love nothing more than to be able to give Lowry the rest he needs heading into the team's first postseason appearance since 2008. But with the Raptors' lead over Brooklyn shrinking 1 1/2 games atop the Atlantic Division, giving Lowry a break simply isn't an option. "We are not in the position to just totally shut him down," head coach Dwane Casey told the Toronto Star. "I think we have to be smart with it. But I don't know if we're in a position ... if he can go, we're going to have to find him some time."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The home team has won each of the last 10 meeting, including Houston's 110-104 overtime triumph Nov. 11.
2. Lowry has averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games since the All-Star break.
3. Houston is 11-6 in the second games of back-to-backs so far this season.