San Antonio @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 1, 2018 ) Houston 102, San Antonio 91

The San Antonio Spurs are in danger of falling outside the Western Conference playoff picture and their rough road doesn't get any easier with a visit to the NBA-best Houston Rockets on Monday. Losers of 10 of their last 13, the Spurs - who own the longest active playoff streak in major U.S. sports at 20 years - are in seventh place in the West and just a half-game up on a hard-charging trio of teams.

"Everybody gets tested," coach Gregg Popovich told the media after a 104-94 loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday. "There's always something you've got to deal with, always new situations that arise. Everybody does their best. If you're doing that and give yourself a chance, maybe you get a little luck along the way." The Rockets own a 1 1/2-game lead over Golden State in the race for the top spot in the West and are beginning a stretch in which they play 10 of 14 at home. They bounced back from their first loss in well over a month with a 105-82 victory at Dallas despite the absence of MVP candidate James Harden. The league's leading scorer at 31.1 points per game, Harden is bothered by left knee soreness but is expected to return for this one.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT THE SPURS (37-29): Injuries have dominated the landscape in San Antonio this season and All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge (knee) is expected to sit for the second time in the last five games. The news is more encouraging as it relates to star swingman Kawhi Leonard, who could return to action against New Orleans on Thursday after missing all but nine games this season with a variety of ailments. Danny Green led the Spurs with 22 points in the previous meeting with Houston - a 102-91 loss at home Feb. 1 - but has been held to single digits in four of his last five contests.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (52-14): Eric Gordon scored 26 points and Chris Paul finished with 24 and 12 assists in the rout of the Mavericks on Sunday as Houston clinched a playoff spot, a mere formality for a team on pace to shatter the franchise record for wins. "We have bigger aspirations," coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. Gordon is averaging 20.5 points while burying 28 3-pointers over his last six games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs C Davis Bertans posted an average of 14.7 points in 21.7 minutes over a three-game stretch.

2. Rockets SF Trevor Ariza made 1-of-16 from 3-point range over his last three contests.

3. Houston has won 11 games in a row at home.

PREDICTION: Rockets 113, Spurs 104