Philadelphia @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 8, 2019 ) Philadelphia 91, Houston 107

James Harden displayed his toe issue is behind him in his last outing and looks for another strong performance when the Houston Rockets host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Harden missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to the injury and bounced back with 35 points in Tuesday's 130-104 rout of the visiting Denver Nuggets.

Harden was impressed with Tuesday's victory over a Denver squad known for its tenacious defense and he feels his team is about to raise its standard. "We've just got to find a way," Harden told reporters. "It will get there. We're not where we want to be, obviously. It's still early in the season, but we've got to find a way to sustain it for four quarters and once we get that it's going to be pretty tough to beat us." Philadelphia lost its last three games and trailed by as many as 36 points while being routed 115-97 by the host Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. "That's a disappointing performance," 76ers coach Brett Brown said afterward. "I do give Indiana credit as it relates to us missing shots. ... Just didn't have the performances that we're used to having and sometimes that happens."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet Southwest

ABOUT THE 76ERS (23-13): Center Joel Embiid missed the Indiana game with a knee injury and his status for Friday's game hasn't yet been firmed up. Embiid scored 20 or more points in each of his past 10 appearances with nine double-doubles while averaging 27 points and 12.4 rebounds during the stretch. Shooting guard Josh Richardson scored a team-best 20 points on Tuesday and is averaging 17.5 over the past four games.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (23-11): Harden dealt with double teams as he crossed halfcourt against Denver but it didn't stop him from making 10-of-17 shots, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range. "Me and Coach (Mike) D'Antoni talk about it all the time," Harden told reporters of the double team. "That means that I'm doing something right, (that) I'm pretty good." Harden has six 3-pointers in each of his past three games while point guard Russell Westbrook scored 28 points against Denver for his 11th straight 20-point effort.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The 76ers won two of the past three meetings after losing the previous eight matchups.

2. Philadelphia F Tobias Harris is averaging 10.5 points over the past two games after averaging 27 over the previous three contests.

3. Houston C Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Denver after scoring a career-best 19 points one game earlier against the New Orleans Pelicans.

PREDICTION: Rockets 117, 76ers 107