FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

From short to shorthanded

1 The Rockets were not optimistic that Christian Wood would return in time to face the Knicks, leading to more decisions in the frontcourt. Wood had not missed any games this season with the tendinitis in his left knee before sitting out the first game of the back-to-back in Cleveland on Wednesday.

Scoring surge and home cooking

2 The Rockets had the worst-rated offense in the NBA when they faced the Knicks in New York last month. They had the sixth-best offensive rating in the 12 games going into Wednesday’s game since. Wood, who made 6 of 11 shots for 18 points in New York, has been a large part of that turnaround. But at home, the 3-point shooting of Garrison Mathews, who was just starting to get minutes when the Rockets previous played New York, has been valuable. In home games, Mathews has made 45.2 percent of his 3s, averaging 17.4 points.

Buy a program

3 The Rockets are likely to have three starters – Wood, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. – out. But the Knicks will also look different from the previous meeting. Kemba Walker has since been replaced in the starting lineup by Alec Burks. Nerlens Noel has started four of the past five games, sitting out one game against the Pacers, replacing Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup.

Expect one-on-ones

4 Largely because of Julius Randle, who gets more oneon-one possessions than all but six NBA players, the Knicks work in iso often. They rank ninth in points per possession going one-on-one. No team faces more one-onone possessions per game, with the Rockets tied for 19th in points allowed per possession when defending against iso.

Pacesetters

5 The Rockets remain first in the NBA in pace of play but have slowed down considerably since Porter went out.