WE MEET AGAIN

The last time these two teams met, the Rockets tied an NBA record with 23 three-pointers en route to a 140-109 blowout win in Houston. The 31-point loss was the worst defeat of the season for the Warriors, and will not be soon forgotten. Needless to say, the Warriors will be looking for a little redemption as they look to even the score on their own home court. The game falls on Asian Heritage Night at Oracle Arena, and the Warriors will celebrate with several cultural performances throughout the evening.

 

LAST TIME OUT

It was a tough end to a tough road trip as the Warriors fell to the Mavericks 116-91 on Saturday night. The Warriors shot 34-of-89 for the night and had 15 turnovers. The Warriors trimmed a 28-point deficit to 13 points in the second half but couldn't get any closer to that. Stephen Curry led the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Harrison Barnes added 12 points while David Lee had 10 points, six rebounds. Klay Thompson finished with 11 points, shooting 3-of-7 from three-point range.

 

HALFWAY THERE…SORT OF

Tuesday’s matchup represents the last game before the All-Star break for both teams, and you can bet the players and coaches are looking forward to a few days off while the league convenes in Houston for the annual NBA All-Star Weekend. While the 82-game season is technically already more than halfway over, the All-Star break typically symbolizes the conclusion of the first portion of the season and the opening of the final stretch in the lead-up to the postseason. Both the Rockets and the Warriors have plenty to feel good about, as both teams have outperformed expectations, particularly Golden State. With four players headed to Houston to compete at All-Star Weekend, the league has recognized the Warriors great start and rewarded them with a chance to display their talents alongside the league’s biggest and brightest stars.

 

HOME COOKING

After enduring their first sub-.500 roadtrip of the season last week, the Warriors have completed arguably the toughest portion of their season, and now have a very home-heavy schedule the rest of the way. Of the Warriors 30 remaining games this season, 18 will be played at Oracle Arena, including 16 of the final 22. Golden State has played the fewest home games (22) of any team in the Western Conference thus far, a figure that should be advantageous down the stretch as opponents make the trek to Oracle Arena while the Warriors jockey for playoff position.

 

HOUSTON SCOUTING REPORT

Not much has changed since the Warriors encountered the Rockets a week ago, and you can bet there won’t be any surprises on either side this time around. As the Warriors quickly found out, Houston can shoot the ball as well as any team in the league if given the chance, and while no one expects them to drain another 23 three-pointers, their potency from long-range has to be respected. James Harden, who has scored 21 points or more in 10 of his last 11 games, will be of particular concern for Golden State, as will his backcourt mate Jeremy Lin, who scored 28 points and dished out nine assists against the Warriors in their first meeting. Locking those two down and limiting their opportunities will be essential if the Warriors hope to even up the season series at one game apiece.