The Warriors' homestand continues when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.
Warriors vs. RocketsThursday, Dec. 17:30 p.m.Oracle Arena
TV: CSN Bay Area, TNT
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Riding a 12-game winning streak, the Warriors will attempt to keep their momentum rolling when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. This will be the first of four matchups between the two teams this season, and Thursday’s contest represents their first encounter since Golden State eliminated Houston in a five-game Western Conference Quarterfinal series back in April. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Watch the action on CSN Bay Area and TNT, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game or on the Warriors Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors survived a scare and picked up their 12th straight win with a 105-100 victory over the Hawks on Monday night at Oracle Arena. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
GSW
16-2
1st in West
117.6 PPG (1st)
43.9 RPG (14th)
31.1 APG (1st)
HOU
11-7
T-4th in West
109.3 PPG (5th)
43.3 RPG (T-19th)
24.2 APG (4th)
PROJECTED STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
HOU: Patrick Beverley, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson and Clint Capela
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Damian Jones is on D-League assignment. Team Notes
HOU: Chinanu Onuaku is on D-League assignment. Team Notes
HOPE YOU LIKE OFFENSE
You’d be hard-pressed to find two more dynamic offenses than the ones that will take the court at Oracle Arena on Thursday night. On one side, you have a Golden State squad that is on pace to become the first NBA team to average more than 117 points per game since the Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin-led Warriors did so in ’91-’92. On the other, you have a Rockets team that currently ranks in the top-five in the NBA in scoring, assists, team field goal and three-point percentage, and leads the league in both three-pointers made and attempted per game. All of this is to say, expect plenty of points on Thursday night.
TEAM LEADERS
GSW
PTS: Durant (27.1)
REB: Green (8.6)
AST: Green (6.9)
HOU
PTS: Harden (28.7)
REB: Capela (8.6)
AST: Harden (11.9)
HOUSTON SCOUTING REPORT
The Rockets and Warriors have met in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and given the way both have looked to begin this new season, perhaps a third consecutive matchup is in store. Houston hired Mike D’Antoni as head coach this past offseason, and the offensive guru has paid immediate dividends, transforming the Rockets into one of the most potent offensive teams in the last several years. No player has thrived due to D’Antoni’s arrival as much as James Harden, who continues to score at a high rate (28.7 ppg, 4th in NBA) while functioning as the team’s point guard, leading the entire league with an average of 11.9 assists per game. Harden is certainly in the early MVP race discussion, and he’s got a group of teammates who can space the floor and shoot the lights out. The Rockets have made at least 10 3-pointers in 17-straight games, breaking the NBA record set by both the Warriors and Cavaliers just last season. Golden State typically possesses an offensive advantage whenever they take the court, but that may not be the case when the Rockets come to town on Thursday. As such, in a game pitting to offensive juggernauts against one another, it may turn out to be the team that puts forth the best defensive effort that comes away with the victory.