Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT

Location: Toyota Center (Houston, Texas)

Television: ABC

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

The Oklahoma City Thunder has won 9 of their last 10 to match one of their best stretches of their season, and tonight they face a tough test on the road. The Thunder plays James Harden and the Rockets in Houston in front of a national audience on ABC.

James Harden has been putting up ridiculous numbers lately to push his season scoring average to 36.5 points per game, and in two games against the Thunder so far this season, he scored 41 and 19 points. Stopping Harden will be key to picking up a win in Houston tonight, but the OKC should really focus in on trying to score down low.

The paint is particularly vulnerable for the Rocket due to center Clint Capela being out with a thumb injury. With no Capela, the tallest Rocket starter is Kenneth Faried at 6’8″, which gives the Thunder a clear height advantage. If OKC can run with the Rockets and not let the small ball hurt them, then Jerami Grant and Steven Adams may be able to get the Thunder off to a hot start.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Terrance Ferguson
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Jerami Grant
• C: Steven Adams

Rockets

• PG: Chris Paul
• SG: James Harden
• SF: Eric Gordon
• PF: P.J. Tucker
• C: Kenneth Faried

Injuries

Thunder

• Alex Abrines (personal) is OUT.
• Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) is OUT.

Rockets

• Clint Capela (right thumb injury) is OUT.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 17-21 against the Rockets (12-8 at home, 5-13 on the road).
• The Thunder has won the season series with the Rockets 4 times, lost it 4 times, and tied 2 times.
• The Thunder won the regular season with the Rockets last year 2-1 (1-1 at home, 1-0 on the road).
• The Thunder is 1-1 against the Rockets so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).
• The Thunder has won only 1 of the last 8 matchups with the Rockets in Houston.

Game Notes

• The Thunder has won 2 consecutive games while the Rockets are on a 3-game winning streak.
• The Thunder is 9-1 in their last 10 while the Rockets are 7-3 in their last 10.
• Oklahoma City is 16-12 on the road while Houston is 19-8 at home.
• Oklahoma City is 19-14 against the Western Conference while Houston is 20-14.
• The Thunder is 20-13 coming off of one day of rest while Houston is 6-4 coming off of two days of rest.
• The Thunder is 3-1 in February (2-0 at home, 1-1 on the road) and the Rockets are also 3-1 in February (0-0 at home, 3-1 on the road).
• The Thunder is 4-2 on Saturdays so far this season (1-1 at home, 3-1 on the road) while the Rockets are 9-4 (5-0 at home, 4-4 on the road).
• Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes
• Houston Rockets Official Game Notes

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