The Houston Rockets (9-10) set to host the visiting San Antonio Spurs (17-4) for an in-state rivalry game Monday at 8:00 pm ET.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale rejoined the team for Saturday's 116-109 defeat to Dallas. The coach spent almost a month away from the team, and returned two weeks after the death of his daughter.
The last game Houston played without McHale, Kelvin Sampson was interim coach for last Friday's 114-92 loss at San Antonio (17-4). Six different Spurs reached double figures as they led by as many as 33 points and outscored the Rockets 60-38 in the paint.
Houston's biggest problem this season has been on the defensive end, as the Rockets allow 103.9 points per contest, ranking last in the league.
Offense hasn't been a problem for James Harden, who followed up a 29-point effort in the loss to the Spurs with 39 versus the Mavericks.
Struggling point guard Jeremy Lin, however, logged a season-low 18 minutes in McHale's first game back. Lin has totaled 15 points in his last three games.
Despite their records, both teams are ranked second and fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 104.6 and 103.4 points per game, respectively.
The Spurs have won four straight and nine of 10, with the lone defeat the infamous loss at Miami in which Gregg Popovich left four key players at home.
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