NBA regular season preview: Houston Rockets vs LA Clippers
The Houston Rockets are currently in the middle of a three-game home stand that they hope to capitalize on before they get back on the road. The team has had all sorts of issues this season but all those will be forgotten if they manage to grab a playoff spot. They haven't been that good at home though, winning 18 and losing 14 at the Toyota Center. This time, they'll be facing a Western Conference rival – the Los Angeles Clippers, which in turn is staring at a five-road trip. They actually was blown out by the San Antonio Spurs, 108-87, to begin the trip, per NBA.com.
Consistency is what the Clippers are looking for as they make a push for the top four and home court advantage in the playoffs. They've been playing decent basketball without All-Star forward Blake Griffin, but haven't been able to win consistently in their past 10 games. Heading into this game against the Rockets, the team is averaging 104.6 points while shooting 46.1 percent on the floor. While those seem to be good numbers, they actually are giving opponents 100.6 points a game. In a league where offense thrives, defense wins games.
If it is any indication how this game would turn out, it would be the fact that the Rockets have won five of their last seven games; so they should be looking at building some kind of streak, including this game. Just like the Clippers though, the team is never known for its defense, giving up 106.6 points to the opposing squad per game. They have one of the most explosive offensive weapons in the league in James Harden and a shot-blocking presence in Dwight Howard, but LA's frontcourt is not to be denied as well.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The Clippers are holding on to fourth spot while the Rockets are seventh. With less than 20 games remaining in the regular season, it's about time for both teams to raise their level of play.
Game Details
• Venue: Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
• Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:30 pm
• TV: ESPN
