Rockets at Suns
The Houston Rockets saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end beneath a flurry of missed shots but look to start a new one when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Houston was a horrific 6-of-38 from 3-point range in Tuesday's 102-100 loss to San Antonio - a performance that helped lead to its first defeat since Nov. 29.
San Antonio's Patty Mills drained the winning 3-point basket with 12.9 seconds remaining on Tuesday, and the Rockets were adamant that the loss wouldn't dent their momentum or propensity to fire up long-range shots. "The confidence is still good and we're going to be just fine," backup shooting guard Eric Gordon told reporters afterward. "We're going to hit another winning streak here. We're a helluva team. A lot of people are being like, 'Oh yeah, they're a good team now.' No, we're a very good team, we're definitely as good as any of them. We're going to be right up there at the top." Houston figures to put up a lot of points against the Suns, who have allowed 11 straight opponents to top 100 while allowing an average of 115.3 during the stretch. Phoenix, which ranks 29th in scoring defense at 113.1 points per game, has dropped three straight contests and four of its last five.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (21-8): Houston's poor marksmanship was stunning after it set an NBA record by making at least 15 3-pointers in five straight games, including the record 24 it hit against New Orleans on Friday. Star guard James Harden was 1-of-11 from 3-point range and Gordon was 1-of-8 as the high number of misses left the former amazed that the Rockets almost kept their winning streak going. "We were (6-of-38) from the 3-point line and we still put ourselves in an opportunity to win the game," Harden told reporters. "We're just not a 3-point shooting team, we're an extremely good team and that's one of the best teams in the league for many, many years. So we got to continue to work and continue to figure each other out and just grind for each other, that's it."
ABOUT THE SUNS (8-20): Shooting guard Eric Bledsoe continued his a strong season Monday, as his 27-point performance in a 115-108 loss to Minnesota marked his ninth effort of 25 or more points this season. The backcourt foursome of Bledsoe, Brandon Knight (21 points), Devin Booker (18) and Leandro Barbosa (10 in 14 minutes) combined for 76 points against the Timberwolves in what proved to be a disappointing effort by the frontcourt. "One thing we know we need to get better at is our toughness," coach Earl Watson told reporters. "That's not a stat. We have to become more feisty because we are small on the perimeter."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Rockets have won each of their last five visits to Phoenix.
2. Phoenix C Tyson Chandler is averaging 13.3 rebounds over his last seven games, twice topping 20.
3. Houston C Clint Capela (fractured fibula) will be sidelined four to six weeks, the team announced on Tuesday.