Washington @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 29, 2017 ) Houston 103, Washington 121

The Houston Rockets already wrapped up the best record in franchise history and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, but they are not satisfied with how they are playing. The Rockets will try to bounce back from a rare loss when they host the slumping Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

Houston won 28 of its last 30 games but had an 11-game winning streak come to an end with a 100-83 loss at San Antonio on Sunday, causing coach Mike D'Antoni to declare an end to the process of resting players down the stretch. "That's why at the end of the year, you've got to be careful taking guys out and just resting them," D'Antoni told reporters. "Everybody wants rest, rest, rest. Well, they've got to play. Otherwise, we're going to lose the advantage of what you worked for for 80 games, and it's scary times for us. You've got to play. You've got to bring it, and you've got to bring it every day. We'll get it back." The Wizards would like to see the Rockets rest some of their stars as they attempt to recover from an embarrassing 113-94 loss to the lowly Chicago Bulls. "We made the playoffs, but are we just excited to have made the playoffs? That's a question we have to ask," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "We have to continue to focus on doing the things that are going to help us win in the playoffs. The good habits we talk about, we work on, but it wasn't displayed (Sunday)."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (42-35): Washington played on Sunday like a team trying to avoid the No. 6 spot in the East and a possible first-round date with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "Now it's all about matchups and who you want to play in the first round from now on," All-Star guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "We could either be playing somebody we want to play or playing a tough one in the first one, so regardless we’ve got to be better. But when you have the abilities to control your destiny a little bit, you've got to take advantage of them." The Wizards would draw the Boston Celtics or the Toronto Raptors in the first round if they slipped to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (62-15): Point guard Chris Paul sat out five of the last six games and superstar James Harden rested once last week, but both could be in the backcourt together again on Tuesday. "We've coasted these last few games," Harden told reporters. "It's time to amp it up a little bit. Just get our minds and our bodies right and get ready to go." Harden is just 6-of-40 from 3-point range over his last five games and committed five of the team's 10 turnovers in Sunday's setback.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets C Clint Capela went 3-of-7 from the floor on Friday and 3-of-9 on Sunday, marking the first time this season that he failed to hit at least 50 percent of his shot attempts in back-to-back games.

2. Wizards PG John Wall (knee) rested on the second night of a back-to-back Sunday but is expected to play Tuesday.

3. Washington knocked off Houston 121-103 at home on Dec. 29 behind 26 points from SF Otto Porter Jr.

PREDICTION: Rockets 119, Wizards 102