Kevin Durant had 31 points and three blocks while Brandon Ingram posted 29 in their last meeting.
The Houston Rockets (39-24) host the Toronto Raptors (36-27) at Toyota Center on Tuesday. The Rockets beat the Raptors 139-121 on Oct. 29 in their only meeting this season.
Here are three key storylines to know heading into tonight’s matchup:
1. Houston has been hot: The Rockets had sky-high expectations coming into the season, and they head into this matchup on a roll. Houston has won eight of their last 13 and hasn’t lost more than two straight games since the opening week of January. Those winning ways have Houston up to fourth in the Western Conference. They’re only 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for third place, and having home-court advantage through the playoffs could be critical. There won’t be a single easy series in the postseason, which could ultimately be the difference. Houston is 21-8 at home and is sixth in net rating.
2. Toronto fighting to avoid Play-In: The Raptors have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA, but they’re struggling a bit now. They are 7-8 in their last 15 games and were pushing with a Top-3 seed in the East after a sizzling start to the season, but this recent stretch has them down to fifth. They also have hot teams like the Miami Heat (36-29) and Orlando Magic (35-28) on their tails in sixth and seventh, with both teams within two games of the Raptors. Falling to seventh would put them into the Play-In Tournament, and that’s what all of these teams are trying to avoid. Either way, it’s been a tremendous season for Toronto, and they have a healthy starting five for the first time in months.
3. Elite defense on display: The reason both teams have been successful this season is their defense. Houston has been one of the best in the league, ranked fourth in points allowed and eighth in defensive efficiency. Toronto is right there with Houston, sitting eighth in points allowed and seventh in defensive efficiency. That’s no surprise with the likes of Amen Thompson and Scottie Barnes on the floor, who are both in line for some First-Team All-Defense votes. However, we shouldn’t overlook these teams’ scoring ability, and each has an offensive savant. Kevin Durant leads the Rockets with 26.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while Brandon Ingram leads the Raptors with 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
