Scouting report: vs. Nets
When/where: 7 p.m. today; Toyota Center
TV/radio: ATTSW; 740 AM, 790 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 (Spanish).
So far: Rockets 21-10; Nets 16-14.
Lately: The Rockets dropped the final game of their four-game road trip, losing on Wednesday to the Warriors to snap a four-game winning streak. The Nets lost to the Knicks on Thursday after winning three of their previous four games.
Scouting the Rockets: The Rockets have lost their past two meetings with the Nets, going from a 15-point lead to a 15-point deficit in Brooklyn this season and losing 145-143 in Houston last season after holding an eight-point lead heading to the final minute of regulation. They have never lost consecutive home games to the Nets … James Harden had 58 points against the Nets last season at Toyota Center and 36 in the first meeting this season. In his past eight games, Harden is averaging 38.6 points on 50.7 percent shooting, but has not topped 30 points in five of his past 11 games. … Guard Russell Westbrook has scored at least 30 points in five of his past eight games. He had scored 30 in one of his first 20 games this season. … Center Tyson Chandler has played just 23 minutes over four games in December. He has started four games this season, averaging 14.9 minutes in starts. … Forward Danuel House Jr. scored in double figures in all four games of the road trip after scoring at least 10 points once in his previous six games.
Scouting the Nets: The Nets take the sixth-most 3-pointers in the NBA, but rank just 27th in 3-point shooting percentage. They rank 13th in the NBA offensively. … The Nets are 6-6 against Western Conference teams. … The Nets are a league-best plus-47 in ‘clutch’ situations (with a five-point lead or deficit in the final five minutes). … The Nets are fifth in offensive rebound percentage, eighth in second-chance points per game, … The Nets made 21 of 78 shots (26.9 percent) in their loss to the Knicks on Thursday, the worst shooting game in the NBA this season. Their eight 2-point field goals were the fewest in an NBA game since 1950. … Guard Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging career highs in scoring, free throws attempted, free throws made and usage. … Guard Garrett Temple, starting with Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert out, is averaging a career-high 10.8 points per game.
Injury report: Rockets — Guard Eric Gordon (right knee surgery), guard Gerald Green (left foot surgery) and center Nene (strained adductor) are out. Forward Thabo Sefolosha (illness) is questionable. Center Clint Capela (bruised right heel) is doubtful. Nets — Nicolas Claxton (left hamstring soreness), Kevin Durant (right Achilles rehab), Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement), Caris LeVert (right thumb surgery), David Nwaba right Achilles tear) are out.
By the numbers: 12 — Nets wins in 19 games with Kyrie Irving out. The Nets are 25th in the NBA offensively, sixth defensively without Irving.
Looking ahead: Rockets at Pelicans, Sunday; Nets at Timberwolves, Monday.