Boston @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 28, 2017 ) Houston 98, Boston 99

The Boston Celtics enjoyed a 16-game winning streak earlier this season and are riding a four-game streak as they get set to open a three-game road trip at the Western Conference-leading Houston Rockets on Saturday. The Rockets would love to see their winning streak reach 16 or more and are currently at 14 straight after dismantling the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Houston just got through sweeping a three-game road trip and is making just a one-game stop at home before heading back out for four more on the road. The Rockets don't seem to have much trouble winning home or away and continue to receive solid all-around contributions from the roster while getting a nightly highlight or two from MVP candidate James Harden, who found himself all over television and the internet after his crossover left Clippers small forward Wesley Johnson sprawled on the ground Wednesday. Harden is sure to draw some defensive attention on Saturday from Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who saw that play like everyone else and is looking forward to the challenge. "I love it," Smart told reporters. "It's an opportunity for me to challenge myself on the defensive end and each and every day I'm up for those type of challenges."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE CELTICS (44-19): Boston was struggling on the offensive end prior to the All-Star break but seems to have fixed those issues and showed off on Wednesday by blasting the Charlotte Hornets 134-106. "Just, to be honest, I thought we played with force," Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters after the win. "I thought we executed well. But that just was one of those nights where you had great, great shot-making. Sometimes it is, as much as it -- if the ball's going in the basket or not. And, you know, we hit a number of shots that we want to get, and we hit a number of shots that we executed very well. We also hit a number of them that were end-of-clock or were a little bit tougher." Plenty of those shots were made by All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who scored 34 points on 13-of-18 shooting.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (48-13): Harden had some fun after Wednesday's win talking about his crossover against Johnson but was quick to point out Houston's winning streak is being fueled by the team's effort on the defensive end. "We created a lot of opportunities with our defense," Harden told reporters. "Offensively, we can score. That's not the problem. Defensively, when we're able to communicate and move our bodies and help each other out, we're on another level." Houston forced 18 turnovers against the Clippers while holding an opponent under 100 points for the sixth time during the winning streak.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics SF Gordon Hayward (broken ankle) is shooting and dribbling as he continues his rehab.

2. Rockets PF Ryan Anderson (hip) sat out the last two games and is not expected to play Friday.

3. Boston squeezed out a 99-98 home win over Houston on Dec. 28 after rallying from a 26-point deficit.

PREDICTION: Rockets 103, Celtics 100