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Houston Rockets look for big win over Thunder tonight

By Michael Knight

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 25, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 25, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Houston Rockets will look to inch closer toward the Thunder in the standings as they host the OKC team tonight. Will they come out victorious behind another stellar night from the Beard?

The Houston Rockets are winners of their last three games in a row and are now 8-4 since Clint Capela went down with an injury. The hardly-healthy Rockets are still finding ways to win games and tonight would be a huge one for their standings in the Western Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder come into this one in the No. 3 spot in the West and 3 games up on the Rockets. They are in the midst of a brutal stretch that will see them play 13 out of their next 16 games against opponents over .500. This is the time for the Rockets to sneak up and take their spot and it starts tonight.

Kenneth Faried has been a huge addition for the Rockets so far. He was signed to help out the team after they lost Capela till after the All-Star Break and has been incredible. In his 9 games (8 starts), he is averaging 16.1 points and 10.2 rebounds a game, numbers very comparable to Clint’s. He isn’t as good of a defensive rebounder as Capela, but his intensity makes up for it. Once both are healthy, that is an extremely formidable two-center rotation.

James Harden will also be looking to extend his streak of 30-point games tonight. He is currently at 28-straight games and will get every opportunity to make it 29 in this one.

Newest addition

Iman Shumpert will be good to go tonight in his first game as a Rocket. He was acquired the night before the trade deadline from the Kings in a deal that sent Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss to the Cavaliers.

Shumpert provides help for the Rockets on both ends of the court and should be a pretty important player for the team. He was having a great year in Sacramento and hopes to continue that success in Houston. Shump is someone that can start at the small forward or come off the bench for the Rockets, whichever they feel is best.

Houston will be a bit short-handed tonight with the injuries and roster moves. Those players don’t normally play, but the lack of depth hopefully won’t come back to bite the Rockets. Let’s hope to sign some buyout candidates soon and maybe even Danuel House to fill the open roster spots.

Next. Buyout options the Rockets should sign

Be sure to tune in for the big game tonight on ABC at 7:30 p.m. CT!

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