Houston @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2018 ) Washington 118, Houston 136

James Harden's first 40-point outing of the season is in the books and the Houston star guard aims for another highly productive outing when the Rockets visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Harden registered 28 outings of 40 or more points last season when he led the NBA with a 36.1 scoring average.

Houston lost its season opener to the Milwaukee Bucks and hasn't been so splendid while beating the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder in its last two games. "It's early season and everybody is trying to get their legs into NBA game shape," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters after a 116-112 win over the Thunder on Monday. "... (Russell Westbrook) said it best when he said we need to come out and play harder at the beginning of the game instead of messing around." Washington is beginning a stretch in which four of five games are at home after going 1-2 on a season-opening road trip, including a solid effort in Saturday's 124-122 loss at San Antonio -- the team's 20th straight loss in that city. "We are going to be a team that is effort, together, and team based," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said told reporters. "If you can do those things, then we are going to be in good shape and win our share of games."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet (Houston), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (2-1): Westbrook had 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists against his former team on Monday and he moved into 20th-place in NBA history with 6,918 assists - just 82 away from becoming the 18th player to reach 7,000. Westbrook's presence has quickened the pace and Harden is still trying to adjust as he is just 18-of-63 shooting, including 6-of-40 from 3-point range. Harden's 40-point outing was primarily due to a 21-of-22 performance from the free-throw line and the Rockets were 28-of-33 overall against Oklahoma City to combat a woeful 10-of-44 showing from 3-point range.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-2): Washington is waiting to see Bradley Beal get untracked as the star shooting guard is making just 30.6 percent of his shots while averaging 20.3 points. Beal set season highs of 25 points and 11 assists against the Spurs while offseason acquisition Davis Bertans scored a season-best 23 points on 7-of-7 shooting and buried five 3-pointers against his former club to raise his average to 14.3. Backup guard Isaiah Thomas contributed 16 points and five assists in 20 minutes in his first appearance with the club as he looks to recapture the form that saw him average 28.9 points for the Boston Celtics in 2016-17 before a major hip injury derailed his career.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Rockets made a then-NBA record 26 3-pointers - they later broke it with 27 - during a 136-118 victory over the Wizards on Dec. 19.

2. Houston SG Gerald Green (broken foot) underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to be sidelined approximately six months.

3. Washington rookie F Rui Hachimura scored in double digits in all three games and is averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.

PREDICTION: Rockets 117, Wizards 109