Game Preview: Rockets v Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers match up with the host Houston Rockets at Toyota Center
on Sunday. The Cavaliers come into Sunday’s contest losing four of their last
six games, as they’ve struggled since losing Kevin Love to a knee injury back in
February. However, they’re coming off a 116-104 win over the Orlando Magic,
where LeBron James went off for a 24-point, 12-rebound, 13-assist triple-double
across 38 minutes. James has now posted back-to-back triple-doubles and has
combined to record a total of 53 points, 25 rebounds and 23 assists over that
two-game stretch. He’ll come into Sunday’s game on fire and figures to have a
shot at another strong performance while matched up with a Rockets’ team that
isn’t necessarily prided on their defense. Along with James, look for Kyrie
Irving to come in to Sunday’s game firing, as he has also been impressive on the
offensive side of the ball of late. Irving has scored more than 20 points in 15
straight games and owns averages of 25.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds
across 35.2 minutes per game. The Rockets, on the other hand, continue to fight
for playoff seeding in the stacked Western Conference. They currently sit third
in the West, four games ahead of the Jazz and 6.5 games behind the Spurs. James
Harden is coming off one of his lowest scoring outputs of the season, as he
recorded just 19 points in the Rockets previous game against the Bulls. Harden
had shot 45 percent or higher in four straight games prior to that contest, but
ended up with just a 37 percent success rate against the Bulls. He’ll look to
get back on track against a Cleveland team that surprisingly struggles to defend
opposing guards. The last time the Rockets took on the Cavaliers, Harden went
off for 41 points and 15 assists, so he’s already had previous success against
Cleveland.