Houston Chronicle

Scouting report: at Cleveland Cavs

- Jonathan Feigen

When/where: 6:30 p.m. today; Quicken Loans Arena. TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM, 740 AM, 850 AM (Spanish).

Rockets (9-8) update: They have a three-game winning streak against the Cavaliers and have won 10 of the past 12 meetings. … They averaged 118.5 points against the Cavaliers last season, outscoring Cleveland by 18.5 points per game. … The Rockets are 2-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season. … The Rockets went into Friday’s overtime loss in Detroit 5-0 against Eastern Conference teams. … Forward P.J. Tucker had played at least 30 minutes in each of the season’s first 15 games, the longest streak of his career, before he was ejected after playing 25 minutes Wednesday. … Forward James Ennis III averaged 13.8 points on 68.3 percent shooting in his four games prior to Friday’s. He had averaged 6.3 points on 39.2 percent shooting in his first nine games. … Centers Nene (right calf tightness) and Zhou Qi (sprained ankle) and guard Brandon Knight (left knee injury) are out.

Cavaliers (3-14) update: They are 0-2 in the second half of back-to-backs this season with both losses on the road. … The Cavs have had the worst-rated defense in the NBA, allowing 113.4 points per 100 possession­s. They rank second-to-last in assist ratio and assist-to-turnover ratio. … Guard Jordan Clarkson scored in double figures off the bench in 15 of the Cavs’ first 16 games. Rookie guard Collin Sexton scored in double figures in all six of his starts going into Friday’s game, averaging 17.5 points, three rebounds and 2.7 assists in 33.7 minutes per game in those games. … Sam Dekker (sprained left ankle), George Hill (right shoulder sprain) and Kevin Love (left foot surgery) are out.

Statistica­lly speaking: 29 – points per game averaged by Rockets guard James Harden going into Friday’s game, making him the league’s top scorer among players that have played enough to qualify. (Stephen Curry has averaged 29.5 points, but played in 12 games.)

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