Rockets at Wizards
The Washington Wizards aren't exactly playing up to expectations 19 games into the season but may finally be finding the formula to lead them back to a winning record. The Wizards will try to secure their sixth win in nine games when they host the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Reported infighting between players and between players and coaches marred the first month of the season but Washington is still capable of putting together a good showing and ran away from the New Orleans Pelicans late on Saturday thanks to a rare display of defensive intensity. "We just did what we needed to do, and it was all on the defensive end," Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "That's where it came from. Our shots were equal, and we put up a nice amount of points, but our defense is what won us the game. We accepted the challenge." The Rockets were rolling right along with wins in five straight but could not survive a back-to-back on the road and fell at Detroit and Cleveland to drop back to .500. Houston star James Harden continued his torrid pace with 40 points against the Cavaliers and is averaging 37.5 points over the last four contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (9-9): Harden's uptick in scoring is coming with an uptick in turnovers, and his nine on Saturday marked the fourth straight game in which he committed at least six miscues. The reigning MVP was forced to do more ball handling with point guard Chris Paul out on Saturday, and he remains day-to-day after sitting out Sunday's practice with a sore left leg. Paul's absence forced sixth man Eric Gordon into the starting lineup on Saturday and robbed the reserve unit of its most potent scorer.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-12): Washington guard Austin Rivers matched a season high with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in 27 minutes off the bench Saturday. "One thing I've learned, one thing I've got down now, is you can't defer when you're on the court with John (Wall) or Brad (Beal)," Rivers told reporters. "If anything, you have to be more aggressive, and they actually like that, too, because it makes it easier for them because you attack, and they get easy shots." Wall and Beal each handed out eight assists in the 124-114 triumph while combining for 40 points on 15-of-31 shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards C Dwight Howard (glute soreness) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.
2. Rockets C Clint Capela recorded a double-double in each of the last five games.
3. The teams split two meetings last season, with each protecting homecourt.