New Orleans @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2017 ) New Orleans 107, Houston 117

The Houston Rockets have appeared unbeatable of late and now begin their longest homestand of the season when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. A 124-117 victory at Portland on Saturday ran Houston's winning streak to nine games, a stretch during which it has averaged 119.8 points and won all but the most recent contest by double digits.

"We're really good," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters on Saturday. "When you have great players, our defense keeps holding up. To win on the road, you have to play good defense. It gives us a chance that sometime in the 48 minutes, we're going hit a variety of shots. We impose our will at that point. Either the bench does it, the starters do it, or a combination. We're 48 minutes of pretty good basketball." James Harden and Chris Paul seem to be the perfect pairing in Houston's backcourt as they combined for 74 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals in the win at Portland. Harden averaged 30.3 points, 13.8 assists and nine boards in four meetings last season with the Pelicans, who capped a 2-2 homestand with a 131-124 comeback victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. Jrue Holiday scored 34 points - 19 in the fourth quarter - in New Orleans' best offensive showing of the season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (14-13): Anthony Davis scored 29 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 23, but the big men had little help on the glass as New Orleans was outrebounded 47-33 by Philadelphia and gave up 22 offensive boards. "I thought the big thing for us, we just did a real, real poor job on the boards," coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after the win. "Offensive rebounding really hurt us. Even when we were playing good defense, we just gave them those extra possessions." There were plenty of assists to go around, but point guard Rajon Rondo claimed most of them with a season-high 18 to go along with 13 points and five steals.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (20-4): Paul's 26 points on Saturday represents a season high as he made at least 50 percent of his shots for the third time in the last four games. Center Clint Capela recorded his 14th double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes and he was 4-for-5 from the field to push his shooting percentage to 66 percent - second in the NBA entering Sunday. Houston won't play on the road again until Christmas Day at Oklahoma City.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Harden has made exactly four 3-pointers in four straight games and is shooting a career-high 40.6 from beyond the arc.

2. Pelicans SG E'Twaun Moore hit 2-of-4 3-pointers on Sunday and is 19-for-29 this month.

3. Houston averaged 120 points while taking three of the four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Rockets 124, Pelicans 111