FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
Can the Rockets keep the scoring surge going? Will they have to?
1 The Rockets have been fourth in the NBA in offensive rating during their winning streak, beating two of the teams — the Bulls and Hornets — ranked ahead of them in that stretch. The Nets are nowhere near last season’s offensive pace when Kyrie Irving was part of a big three. They have missed Joe Harris. But they are still able to produce huge scoring nights. The Rockets, who before the winning streak were on pace to have the worst offensive rating in the NBA since the 201415 76ers, have scored at least 110 points in three consecutive games for the first time this season. They made 49.4 percent of their shots Sunday and have made at least 47 percent in five of the six games of the winning streak after making 47 percent of their attempts twice in the first 17 games of the season. In the six-game winning streak, the Rockets have averaged 29.3 assists, the most in the NBA in that stretch. The Nets, however, have played well defensively, ranking sixth in the NBA prior to Tuesday’s game in Dallas.
Who defends James Harden and Kevin Durant?
2 Eric Gordon has been the Rockets’ best perimeter defensive player for several years but has not matched up against Harden, who averaged 23 points on 60 percent shooting and 10 assists in last season’s games against his former team. Gordon missed both games against the Nets last season. The last time he played against Harden, Gordon made 19 of 33 shots in three games against the Rockets when he was with the Pelicans in the 2015-16 season. The Rockets will likely assign Jae’Sean Tate to match up with Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer. Though Tate is the only current and active Rockets player to have played in both games against the Nets last season, Durant did not play in either of those games. But if the Rockets return to their small lineup, they would likely have to defend Durant with either Tate or Garrison Mathews, giving up size with either matchup.
Who starts?
3 The Rockets went back to a lineup with both centers, Christian Wood and Daniel Theis, against the Pelicans but will have one game against a team with a small starting lineup before a series of games against more conventional size in the frontcourt. The Nets have been starting 6-5 Deandre Bembry in the frontcourt with Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge, potentially allowing the Rockets to return to a lineup with additional shooting. With Kevin Porter Jr. out, that still leaves a question. Armoni Brooks started the second half of the two games Porter left in the first half, but the Rockets have liked keeping the second unit of Brooks, Danuel House. Jr., K.J. Martin, D.J. Augustin and Alperen Sengun, together as much as possible.
One-on-one is the loneliest number
4 No team goes one-on-one more often the Nets. Only two score more efficiently in isolation. The Rockets can expect to see plenty of that because the team that goes one-on-one next most often after the Nets has been whatever team is playing the Rockets. The Rockets defend 11.4 one-on-one possessions per game, roughly one fewer than the Nets run. That number could be elevated because of the Rockets’ schedule, with seven games already against teams in the top five in iso possessions per game. But the Rockets have been good at defending one-on-one. Opponents average 0.86 points per oneon-one possession, placing the Rockets in the top 10 defending in isolation. No team scores in one-on-one possessions as much as the Nets, bringing a test of a relative strength of the Rockets’ defense.
Welcome back, Beard?
5 Last season, with the sparse crowd because of COVID protocols, James Harden was generally cheered in introductions with a few pockets of fans booing then and throughout the game. This season should offer a better sense of how he is viewed and will be received in his former home. Initially cheered, Harden was eventually booed in Oklahoma City, but his tenure and departure there were very different than Houston. His scoring against the Thunder, however, is the third-most he has averaged against any opponent.
INJURY/STATUS REPORT
Rockets: Forward Danuel House Jr. (sprained left ankle), guard John Wall, guard Jalen Green (strained left hamstring), guard Kevin Porter Jr. (bruised left thigh) and forward Usman Garuba (bruised right thigh) are out.
Nets: Forward Joe Harris (left ankle surgery), center Day’Ron Sharpe (G League assignment,) forward Kessler Edwards (G League assignment,) guard Kyrie Irving (not with team) are out.