Here is what you need to know before the Lakers return home to face the Houston Rockets.
1) The Lakers enter this game with question marks at several positions. Kobe Bryant said he will try to play despite a sore right Achilles. Meantime, Larry Nance Jr. (sore right knee) is considered doubtful, and Brandon Bass (sore right ankle) missed Los Angeles’ last game on Saturday.
2) Bryant currently sits on the cusp of history, as he needs only four assists to pass Jerry West (6,238) for the second-most in franchise history. Magic Johnson (10,141) is the all-time leader.
3) The Rockets have beaten the Lakers in seven of the teams’ past eight meetings, including a 20-win rout on Dec. 17 when they racked up a season-high 23 offensive rebounds.
4) Houston recently had its five-game winning streak snapped by Cleveland on Friday. The Rockets’ surge had come at a convenient time, as they had lost four straight prior to it.
5) Houston has the most opportunistic defense in the NBA, as it averages a league-high 10.0 steals. That is on pace for the most by any team since the 2005-06 Charlotte Bobcats matched that number.
6) However, the turnover battle swings both ways for Houston, which also averages the NBA’s second-most giveaways (16.9). As such, its opponents are also scoring the second-most points off turnovers (19.8).
7) Houston is led by the league’s second-highest scorer, James Harden (27.6 ppg). The three-time all-star also leads the NBA in isolation scoring (7.1) and made free throws (8.7).
8) However, Harden has also struggled at certain points this year, including on Friday when he shot just 2-of-10 for 11 points with eight turnovers. He is committing 4.7 giveaways per game, which is on pace to tie Charles Barkley (1986-87) for the second-most ever.
9) Though he is averaging his fewest points (14.2) since his rookie season, Dwight Howard has stepped up his game lately. He has a double-double in eight straight games, averaging 19.5 points and 13.3 rebounds.
10) Patrick Beverley currently ranks sixth in in the NBA in 3-point percentage (44.0). He has been striking frequently in his last three games, going 10-of-17 from deep.
