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texasholdem wrote:I heard Rockets just waived Papa to sign Javale McGee

inquisitive wrote:howard should skip tomorrow and play thursday against the mavs

The Houston Rockets will likely have to come out on top in the Southwest Division race to avoid facing the defending NBA champions in the first round of the playoffs.

With a chance to move into a first-place tie, they may have to overcome the absences of several key players Wednesday night against a visiting Sacramento Kings team that might not have its top two scorers.

After jumping ahead of Memphis in the division following a 7-1 stretch, Houston (50-24) dropped a half-game behind the Grizzlies with Monday's 99-96 loss at Toronto.

"We had our opportunities, we just didn't get the job done," coach Kevin McHale said.

The Rockets should be motivated to bounce back and finish ahead of the Grizzlies since they haven't won a division title since 1993-94 and likely wouldn't have to play sixth-place San Antonio in the opening round.

Houston and the Spurs have split two matchups this season with a home-and-home series still to come next week.

The Rockets are hoping to reach those goals while getting healthier in time for the postseason. They've lost Patrick Beverley for the season following wrist surgery and Donatas Motiejunas is sidelined Wednesday due to a back injury.

Making things worse, Dwight Howard (knee) and Terrence Jones (lung) will be game-time decisions.

"Dwight is going to have limited minutes for a while," McHale said.

James Harden will continue to carry the load. He's averaging 31.9 points over the last seven games after scoring 31 on Monday.

The All-Star guard came up big in the last meeting with Sacramento, finishing with 44 points while hitting 13 of 15 from the free-throw line in a 113-109 overtime road win Dec. 11. He's scored 35.0 per game in the last five matchups.

Howard and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins were sidelined in that contest. That could be the case again after Kings coach George Karl reportedly suggested Cousins might sit out the remaining road games.

Cousins has averaged 32.0 points and 16.0 rebounds in his last three games overall but did not play in Monday's 97-83 loss at Memphis. Sacramento has dropped 14 of 17 without Cousins, who is averaging a team-high 24.1 points.

Rudy Gay, second on the Kings (26-47) with 20.9 points per game, scored 24 on Monday before suffering a head injury and must undergo the league's concussion protocol.

"Every time it looked like we had an opportunity, we'd bite ourselves in the butt with a bad pass or a bad decision," Karl said of playing without his two top players.

Gay missed a 102-89 loss in Houston on Nov. 26.

Since averaging 108.0 points over the final three of a four-game run, the Kings have scored 85.5 in back-to-back defeats. They could have a tough time keeping up with Houston, which has averaged 108.0 points in its last 10 home games.

The Rockets outscored Sacramento 59-23 off turnovers while forcing 43 in the first two meetings. They rank among the league leaders by forcing 16.5 turnovers and scoring 19.0 per game off those mistakes.

MaxRider wrote:yea scrub always like to have career game against us

MaxRider wrote:

texasholdem wrote:I heard Rockets just waived Papa to sign Javale McGee

they are actually waiving beverley

JetLife wrote:T Jones will play.
Idk if anyone posted that here.


Sent from the Villain

Mr. E wrote:

JetLife wrote:T Jones will play.
Idk if anyone posted that here.


Sent from the Villain

First I've heard this! Thanks!