Brooklyn @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 15, 2017 ) Houston 137, Brooklyn 112

The Houston Rockets have barely been tested in a four-game winning streak and have a great chance to extend their run when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The four straight victories have come by an average of 23.3 points with Saturday's 117-102 triumph over the New York Knicks the closest affair of the bunch.

James Harden continued his MVP-caliber pace with 37 points and 10 assists and the reserves provided 44 points - led by Ryan Anderson's 17 - as Houston came from behind to win for the 10th time in 11 games overall. "That's what a team is about - the starters aren't always going to get it done," Harden told reporters. "The bench came in with that energy, we started trimming the deficit down, and in the second half, we put on a show, defensively, especially in the third quarter." The Nets snapped a three-game slide with a 98-88 win at Memphis on Sunday in the opener of a three-game road trip. Expect 3-pointers to be fired up at a furious pace in this one; Houston leads the NBA in long-range attempts per game (44.3), while Brooklyn ranks second (33.4).

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

ABOUT THE NETS (7-12): DeMarre Carroll's season-high 24 points led the way in Sunday's victory as Brooklyn improved to 3-3 on the road against the Western Conference after going 4-11 last season. The victory came with a shorthanded lineup as guard Allen Crabbe was a late scratch with a back issue and swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. Forward Trevor Booker, who recently dealt with an ankle injury of his own, finished with 16 points and 11 boards for his first double-double since Oct. 20.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (15-4): Chris Paul has been able to increase his minutes each time out since returning from a knee injury on Nov. 16, and the nine-time All-Star has shown little rust, although he did struggle to 2-of-12 shooting Saturday. Paul has 25 assists, five steals and two turnovers in his last two games, and he hit 10-of-18 from 3-point range prior to the win over the Knicks. Center Clint Capela notched his 12th double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds in the victory and the fourth-year pro has shot 54.5 percent or better in all 19 contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Harden averages 33.9 points while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range at home.

2. Nets SG Caris LeVert is 8-for-17 from beyond the arc over his last six games after going 10-for-47 through his first 13 contests.

3. Houston won both meetings last season while averaging 129.5 points.

PREDICTION: Rockets 123, Nets 99