Houston @ Brooklyn preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2019 ) Brooklyn 145, Houston 142

The Houston Rockets had some concerns about how former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook would jell when paired together, but those questions - at least offensively - are being answered. The Rockets will try to follow a record-breaking offensive performance and earn a fourth consecutive win when they visit Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Houston and the Washington Wizards set a record with 317 combined points in a contest decided by one point as the Rockets pulled out a 159-158 victory. "I didn't know we were going to have to score about 160 points to win, but whatever it takes it took," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "A lot of great individual performances. They played unbelievable. They didn't miss anything. We just let down a little bit, and they made everything." The Nets are trying to fit new pieces together and blame some lapses on the defensive end on struggles learning the offense. "We've really got to get to know each other better," Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "We're not really running anything. In training camp, you're practicing a lot and you have a nice flow, you kind of know what you're doing. I think we've lost a little bit of our structure and organization, which is natural with a new team and new guys."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (3-1): Harden led the way with 59 points on 18-of-32 shooting against Washington but bemoaned the team's defensive effort. "The only way we'll get to where we want to go is our defensive efforts, and it has to be consistent," Harden told reporters. "Right now, we're not consistent, and that's why we go through tough times like that. That's what the course of the year is for. We just try and build those habits and continue to keep building." Westbrook (17 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) recorded a triple-double in the victory - his second of the season - but Houston allowed Washington to shoot 62.6 percent from the floor.

ABOUT THE NETS (1-3): Irving is the biggest addition to the roster with Kevin Durant (Achilles) sidelined and he is averaging 35.3 points but could not pick his team up in a pair of overtime looses and a 118-108 setback against Indiana over the first week. "They've had a system the last few years, and now we have to adjust to the players who are here," Irving told reporters. "It's going to take some time, but I'm excited to go through practice with them every single day." Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie is coming off the bench behind Irving and manages to make an impact with an average of 17.5 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets C Nene (groin) missed the first four games and remains day-to-day.

2. Nets SF Joe Harris is 13-of-25 from 3-point range.

3. Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with a 145-142 overtime triumph at Houston on Jan. 16.

PREDICTION: Rockets 126, Nets 115