When: November 11, 2015; 8:00 PM EST
Where: Toyota Center; Houston, TX
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN
As has been the case with most Nets opponents this season, the Houston Rockets are heading in a completely different direction than Brooklyn is. After losing their first three games of the season — all by 20 or more points — a NBA record, Houston has won four straight and looked pretty dominant in doing so. Not coincidentally, Dwight Howard missed two of the losses due to injury and has played in three of the wins. Howard, who was on the verge of becoming a Net a few seasons ago, is averaging 17.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per contest so far this season and looks as healthy as he has looked in years.
Even with a productive Dwight, Kevin McHale’s team lives and dies with James Harden, who has posted 43 or more points in the Rockets’ last two games, wins over the Kings and Clippers. To boot, he has gone 27-for-49 from the field (9-for-20 from three) in those masterful performances. It’s hard to score 40+ points more efficiently than that. Houston’s scoring fades a little after those two guys, but Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley and former Net Marcus Thornton, to name a few guys, provide a secondary punch.
Meanwhile, following a 94-86 loss in Milwaukee on Saturday night, the Nets are in dire straits and need a win in the worst way. This weekend, with games against the Lakers and Bucks, presented Brooklyn’s best chance for wins in awhile, most likely, as it’s always hard to win during the Western Conference trips. Brooklyn doesn’t match up well with Houston and with Harden and Howard playing so well, it’s a very difficult team to defend.
Probable lineups
BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
HOU- Ty Lawson (PG), Marcus Thornton (SG), James Harden (SF), Trevor Ariza (PF), Dwight Howard (C)
Final thoughts
With each loss, in theory, the Nets should be getting more desperate and anxious to get their first win as to avoid the futile mark set by the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely that the streak-breaking win will occur tonight in Texas.
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