Rockets at Raptors
The Houston Rockets put their five-game winning streak on the line when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. The Rockets haven't experienced much recent success in Toronto by dropping nine of their last 11 visits.
All-Star guard James Harden is averaging 50 points over the past two contests and he has scored 40 or more points on 24 occasions after pouring in 42 during Sunday's 115-104 road win over the Boston Celtics. "We're finally healthy, so yeah. It feels good," Harden told reporters of his club's recent strong play. "We're winning, guys know their roles, we're executing defensively, we're helping each other out, we're talking. That's all it's about." Toronto won nine of its past 11 games but is coming off a 112-107 overtime loss to the host Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Point guard Kyle Lowry scored a season-best 35 points in the setback as the Raptors once again rested All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (38-25): Harden made six 3-pointers against Boston to follow up a stellar performance in which he made eight 3-pointers while scoring 58 in a win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. Backcourt mate Eric Gordon had the hotter touch against the Celtics as he made 8-of-12 3-point attempts while scoring 32 points. The eight 3s tied a career high for Gordon, who recorded his third 30-point effort of the campaign after missing the game against Miami due to knee soreness.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (46-18): Leonard made the decisive basket with three seconds left in Friday's 119-117 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers but the club held him out two days later, marking the 18th game he has missed this season. "They're just doing the right precautions to make sure I'm healthy down the road," Leonard told reporters. "I only played nine games last year so the boost is like 200 percent or something like that. It's all about the body. I know what the bigger picture is." Forward Pascal Siakam scored 21 points against the Pistons and topped 20 in four of the past six games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Harden scored 35 points as the Rockets notched a 121-119 home victory over the Raptors on Jan. 25.
2. Toronto C Marc Gasol (2-of-10) and PG Jeremy Lin (0-of-8) both had poor shooting outings against Detroit.
3. Houston PF Kenneth Faried (hip) missed the past two games and is questionable for Tuesday.