OGT Mar 30: Rockets (50-23) @ Raptors (43-30)

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021401104

It's unlikely that*Kyle Lowry*will play Monday night for the*Toronto Raptors, who may be better off without him since he has never defeated theHouston Rockets*since leaving that club.

The Raptors will at least catch a break since they won't have to faceDwight Howard.

The Rockets have dropped their last seven visits to Toronto and plan to rest Howard in this one as they seek a fifth straight win.

Lowry, second on the team with 17.9 points per game, has missed four of the last five contests with back spasms. Coach Dwane Casey had no update on his status at Sunday's practice.

The point guard played for Houston from 2009-12 before being traded to Toronto, which is 0-3 against the Rockets when Lowry faces them and 2-0 since he joined the team when he does not.

The two wins are part of this seven-game home win streak in the series dating to a 114-100 loss March 16, 2007.

Howard had 11 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes in his third game back from a right knee injury in Sunday's 99-91 win at Washington. CoachKevin McHale*said before it that Howard would either play Sunday or Monday, but not both days of the back-to-back set.

"It's nice to win the games, but it would be really nice to get healthy" McHale said. "That's our biggest thing."

Houston is also without*Terrence Jones, out with a partially collapsed lung, and announced Monday that*Patrick Beverley*will miss the remainder of the season following left wrist surgery.

Howard's absence means Toronto (43-30) will focus its defensive effort onJames Harden, who leads the NBA with 727 free-throw attempts. Harden is averaging 31.5 points in this win streak with 24 on Sunday.

Casey said*James Johnson*did a good job in helping limit Harden to 20 points in Toronto's 98-76 loss at Houston on Feb. 21. The coach said Johnson is one of several defenders who will take on the challenge this time.

"If you make a mental mistake, he'll make you pay," said Casey about Harden. "Once he sees it go through the hole, it just becomes easier and easier and easier for him so we gotta give him different looks, different matchups, put him in different situations because that's the only way you can stop him."

Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division with Friday's 94-83 home victory over the*Los Angeles Lakers.*Jonas Valanciunas*scored 19 points and Lou Williams added 18.

"It's a lot more that we need to do," forward*DeMar DeRozan*said. "Get in the playoffs, win games in the playoffs, look forward, keep moving forward and not just think one game or one round."

The Rockets (50-23) reached the 50-win plateau for the second straight season Sunday by enjoying a 53-43 rebounding edge and limiting the Wizards to 38.7 percent shooting. They improved to 22-6 against East foes for the NBA's second-best record.

Houston is in a tight race with Memphis in the Southwest Division. Sunday's win helped Toronto move 2 1/2 games ahead of Washington in the race for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

[Kungfro]

I thought James Johnson did a decent job against Harden the last time we played Houston, although he did still go off on us late in the game. Hopefully Casey matches him up with him again.

[BurningHammer]

Former Raps Dorsey still being in the league is amazing enough, let alone being a Rocket.

[Kungfro]

This Houston defense is just embarrassing the Raps right now.

[Kungfro]

Ross and Vasquez sub out and suddenly the defense looks a lot better.

[Legends66NBA7]

Bench giving the Raps a lift.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

The **** was that call?

[Legends66NBA7]

Clint Capella and Rodney Hood were the guys who I thought the Raps were looking for instead of Bruno.

[RRR3]

Capela

[RRR3]

Clint Capella and Rodney Hood were the guys who I thought the Raps were looking for instead of Bruno.

Am I remembering this right?

1. Caboclo wasn't even in mock drafts
2. Some people thought he wasnt even a real person when he got announced on draft day

[Legends66NBA7]

I remember last year against the Rockets, similar start but the Raps pulled it through.

Rockets are lot better this time around.

[Legends66NBA7]

Am I remembering this right?

1. Caboclo wasn't even in mock drafts
2. Some people thought he wasnt even a real person when he got announced on draft day

Yup.

This was the highlight of the night.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...616&p=10213323

[Legends66NBA7]

Whatever happened to the Raps defensive awareness is still a mystery to me.

[RRR3]

Yup.

This was the highlight of the night.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...616&p=10213323

Hahahaha.

Have you seen him play at all?

[Legends66NBA7]

Hahahaha.

Have you seen him play at all?

In person, no, but he has played in blow outs. Has range, no handles, can't create can't understand most of the plays, seems to understand some defensive fundamentals.

Until year 3, he just isn't ready yet.