The San Antonio Spurs (2-1) will head to Houston where the Rockets (5-0) will try to remain beaten against the defending NBA champions. Watch the Western Conference showdown on TNT at 8:00 p.m. ET or live stream it free by clicking this link. Spurs fans can listen to the radio broadcast on 1200 WOAI, while Rockets fans may do likewise by turning their radio dials to Sports Talk 790.
The Rockets hot start has plenty to do with having center Dwight Howard healthy to begin the season, according to shooting guard James Harden. "You've got the most dominant big man in the league roaming around the rim so somebody has to take him," Harden said.
Through five games Howard is averaging 17.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, freeing Harden to knock down 40 percent of his 3-point attempts and score 27.2 points a night. "We've started great," Howard said. "We just want to finish great."
They will provide a stiff test for the veteran Spurs early in the season, as the reigning champs have been squeaking by opponents in their wins. "We need to be sharper and execute better," said swingman Manu Ginobili after a two-point win over the Suns. The Spurs' two wins are by a combined three points.
Harden and Howard are putting up monstrous numbers, while point guard Tony Parker leads the Spurs with more pedestrian averages of 19 points and 5.3 assists. Their big three of Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan are all averaging double-figure scoring, while Duncan is averaging 11.7 rebounds.
Offensively, they're behind their normal pace, while they rank inside the Top 10 on defense. That will be the story of the night as they try to halt Houston's fifth-ranked offense.
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