Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2017 ) L.A. Lakers 100, Houston 139

The Houston Rockets are coming off a dominant 4-0 homestand, but they've been truly spectacular on the road this season and will commence a three-game trip at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The Rockets, who have won six in a row and 12 of 13, took four straight at the Toyota Center by an average of 20 points, barely eclipsing that mark in Wednesday's 118-97 victory over Indiana.

They've also won their last five road contests by an average of 21.6 points to improve to 9-1 away from home and help build an allotment of routs that has actually challenged the team's focus at times. "It's tough," forward P.J. Tucker told the Houston Chronicle of staying focused in lopsided affairs. "It's something we talk about every day, though: 'Pay attention to us.' It's more about us than anybody else. We have to challenge ourselves to be better, because we're still thinking in these games, we're not playing great. We're winning by big margins, but we're not playing great." James Harden certainly is, and the superstar guard entered Saturday leading the NBA in scoring (31.5) and assists (9.8) after going for 29 and 10 in the win over Indiana. The Lakers have lost a season-high four in a row and will be hard-pressed to find the energy to stick with the Rockets after they fell 115-100 in Denver late Saturday.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (17-4): Houston's current six-game run - during which it has averaged 120.7 points - coincides with the return of point guard Chris Paul from a knee injury, and the veteran has been running the show with incredible efficiency. "The court's so open, you get in there, you make the easy play for the most part," Paul told reporters. "I don't expect to have any (turnovers). It's like a quarterback. You don't plan to have interceptions because every time you turn it over, it's an opportunity for the other team." Paul has 72 assists and only nine turnovers in seven games this season and has just four giveaways in 120 minutes over a four-game span.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (8-14): Los Angeles went into the fourth quarter with the lead at Denver before fading late. Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had scored at least 20 points in four straight games before being held to three on 1-of-7 shooting - including 0-of-4 from 3-point range Saturday. Forward Brandon Ingram led the way with 20 points and he is averaging 26 over the last two games, although the 20-year-old has three assists and 12 turnovers in that span and was part of a unit that tied a season high with 21 giveaways against the Nuggets.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets C Clint Capela has scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

2. The Lakers have given up an average of 118.8 points during their four-game slide.

3. Houston won two meetings with Los Angeles at home last season while averaging 136.5 points, but it lost 120-114 in its lone visit to the Lakers.

PREDICTION: Rockets 116, Lakers 105