Rockets at Warriors
Reigning MVP James Harden looks to add to his superb run when the streaking Houston Rockets visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Harden has put together a franchise-record four straight 40-point outings and he's averaging 39.7 points and 8.5 assists during the club's current 10-1 stretch.
Harden has three triple-doubles over the past 10 games and that includes his performance of 43 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in Monday's 113-101 home victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. "He's been doing it for 10-plus games now at that level," center Clint Capela told reporters of Harden after the team's fifth straight win. "Right now, he's playing at the best level in the league as a player. If he keeps going that way, obviously he's going to be the MVP." The Warriors own a modest two-game winning streak after recording their third-highest scoring output of the campaign in Monday's 132-109 road win over the Phoenix Suns. Point guard Stephen Curry scored 34 points and has tallied 30 or more in seven of the past 14 contests.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (21-15): Houston's shaky 11-14 start has been forgotten due to the stellar play of Harden, who has posted eight straight games of at least 35 points and five assists to break a record set by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (twice had seven-game runs). "That's what you play the game of basketball for, to be mentioned by name with the greats," Harden told reporters. "Obviously, I have a long way to go, but that's what I put my jersey on for, that's what I lace my shoes up for, to go out there and be the best that I can be and, when it's all said and done, be mentioned as one of the best basketball players to ever touch a basketball." Harden has made five or more 3-pointers in each of the last seven games, making 46-of-107 during the stretch.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (25-13): Golden State made 14 3-pointers against the Suns and had 108 points through three quarters in a performance that the players hope will carry over against the Rockets. "We haven’t been playing well," Curry told reporters. "We haven’t gotten to the point of putting together a high-octane 48 minutes. You have to play well to produce those type of results." Small forward Kevin Durant scored 25 points against Phoenix and has topped 20 in each of the last 11 games, averaging 27.2 points during the stretch.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Harden scored 27 points on 8-of-23 shooting in a 107-86 home win over the Warriors on Nov. 15.
2. Golden State SG Klay Thompson had scored 16 or fewer points in seven of the past eight games.
3. Capela had 19 points and 13 rebounds against the Grizzlies for his seventh double-double in the past 10 games.