FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

Another lineup or rotation change?

1

The Rockets have in three of the past four games increasingly gone to lineups that pair Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun. On Saturday, when Wood and Daniel Theis started together to have Theis on the floor to battle Steven Adams, they even had a pair of short stretches with Wood, Sengun and K.J. Martin. There was no practice Sunday to iron out any changes, but the Hawks’ frontcourt is different from most the Rockets have faced lately, with good size but also tremendous athleticism in the combination of Clint Capela and John Collins, who combine for 28.6 points and 20.6 rebounds per game.

Can the Rockets slow Trae Young? 2

Young has been on a roll with five consecutive games with at least 25 points and double-digit assists, joining only Michael Jordan and Russell Westbrook to reach those numbers in five straight since the 1976-77 season.

The Rockets can put their top perimeter defensive player on Young, with Eric Gordon expected back in the starting lineup after sitting out Saturday in the second half of the back-to-back. Gordon has the best defensive field goal percentage, allowing 32.9 percent in his matchups, of any player who has defended at least 100 shots this season.

Can the Rockets slow the Hawks?

3

The Rockets’ turnaround has been on the offensive end. Defensively, they remain about where they had been all season, ranking 21st in the league (22nd in the nine games since the losing streak.) The Hawks, who averaged 121.5 points on 52.8 percent shooting against the Rockets last season, have had the third-ranked offensive team in the league, scoring 111.4

points per 100 possessions. Much of that has been built on their outstanding range shooting, ranking third in 3-point percentage, making 38.3 percent.

Shooters in a shootout

4

In a matchup with the Hawks, the Rockets could be headed to another shootout. They had success in some of those recent high-scoring games. Much of that has been keyed by the addition of Garrison Mathews in the starting lineup and Armoni Brooks receiving increased minutes in the rotation.

Mathews scored in double figures in each of his past nine games. Since Nov. 27, when Mathews moved into the starting lineup with Jalen Green out, only Stephen Curry has made more 3-pointers than Mathews’ 32.

Remember me?

5

Clint Capela has flourished with the Hawks but has never played against his former team. His 12.8 rebounds per game ranks third in the NBA while he also averages 11.5 points on 57.3 percent shooting. His scoring had been down, averaging 7.8 points in the four games prior to Friday when he had 14 against the Nets.

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,) guard Daishen Nix (G League assignment) and forward Usman Garuba (G League assignment) are out.

Hawks: Guard Bogdan Boganovic (sprained right ankle,) forward Solomon Hill (strained right hamstring,) forward DeAndre Hunter (right wrist surgery,) guard Skyler Mays (G League assignment) and center Onyeka Okongwu (G League assignment) are out.