Rockets at Pelicans
The Houston Rockets have been a different team since Thanksgiving and may have earned their best victory on Christmas Day, turning back the red-hot San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets are 11-5 in their last 16 outings and look to move two games over .500 for the first time this season when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
James Harden scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half as Houston edged San Antonio 88-84 on Friday, winning for the fourth time in five games. The Pelicans had won two straight and three of four games before dropping a 94-88 decision in overtime at Miami on Friday afternoon. New Orleans held the Heat to 39.8 percent shooting, but turned the ball over 19 times — four fewer than when it lost to Houston 108-101 on Dec. 2. Anthony Davis is averaging 28 points during the last three games for the Pelicans and boasts double-doubles in 11 of the past 13 contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV, ROOT (Houston), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (16-15): Harden, who is averaging 18.2 points in 21 career games against New Orleans, had a rough shooting night Friday (7-of-21) after posting 67 points combined in his previous two contests. Center Dwight Howard recorded 11 points and 12 boards in the victory over San Antonio and has made 22-of-32 from the field the last four contests. Forward Terrence Jones has shot the ball better the past five games, averaging 12.6 points while making 24-of-45 from the field, after scoring 3.8 per game the previous five.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (9-20): While Davis has been the biggest factor in the team’s improvement of late, Ryan Anderson has scored in double figures nine times in the 10 games he has played this month. Guard Tyreke Evans struggled against Miami, going 2-of-9 from the field, after posting at least 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in each of the previous two games — both victories. New Orleans could use more inside from center Omer Asik (2.5 points, 4.1 rebounds), who averaged a double-double for Houston in 2012-13.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans traded G Ish Smith to Philadelphia on Thursday for a pair of second-round draft picks.
2. Howard needs five points to become the 24th player in NBA history to score 15,000 and grab at least 10,000 rebounds.
3. New Orleans C Alexis Ajinca (calf) was activated Friday after missing the last three games, but did not play against Miami.