76ers at Rockets
The Houston Rockets attempt to extend the NBA's longest active winning streak to seven games when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Houston defeated Eastern Conference contenders Boston and Toronto in back-to-back games and looks to take down another in the meeting with the 76ers.
The Rockets are competing for the third seed in the Western Conference and Friday's game begins a stretch in which five of six games are at home. Houston ran the Raptors out of the building on Tuesday with a 23-7 edge in fast-break points while it racked up 11 steals, including three by star guard James Harden. Philadelphia All-Star center Joel Embiid (knee) will likely miss his eighth straight game and the club is 4-3 in his absence. The 76ers missed Embiid on Wednesday, when they dropped a 108-107 decision against the host Chicago Bulls as they lost a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet Southwest
ABOUT THE 76ERS (41-24): Philadelphia is being cautious with Embiid as having him healthy for the start of the playoffs rates as more important than in early March. "We've come this far in relation to rest after the All-Star break that, personally, I'm at a stage that if it requires more time, so be it," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters. "The end game is obvious. It's trying to deliver him to the playoffs healthy. I do look up from time to time and pay attention to the NBA calendar and it's not like you have an abundance of time." Shooting guard Jimmy Butler scored 22 points against the Bulls and reached 20 in three of the past four games.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (39-25): Harden scored 35 points in the victory over Toronto, with 19 of them coming in the final quarter. "I was playing well, but I wasn't shooting it well," Harden said of his play through three quarters. "I had a lot of opportunities at the rim that I didn't convert on, so I wanted to make sure I converted on those, because that was the game right there." Harden scored 30 or more points in 36 of his past 37 games, including 20 efforts of 40 or more points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers held the Rockets to 36 percent from the field while rolling to a 121-93 home win on Jan. 21.
2. Philadelphia F Tobias Harris scored 13 points against the Bulls to see his streak of seven straight 20-point outings end.
3. Houston PF Kenneth Faried (hip) will miss his fourth straight game.