Golden State @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2017 ) Houston 122, Golden State 121

The two best teams in the Western Conference share the floor Thursday but one of the game's top talents won't be in uniform. The Golden State Warriors aim to win their ninth consecutive road game when they visit Houston, but Rockets star guard James Harden will miss his second straight game because of a hamstring injury.

Harden could end up missing the rest of the month and the absence of the NBA's leading scorer at 32.3 points per game certainly removes a little luster from the contest. Houston has owned the best record in the NBA for a good chunk of the season but a recent five-game slide allowed the Warriors to overtake leadership. The Rockets cruised to a 116-98 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday without Harden, while Golden State needed a 3-pointer with three seconds left from point guard Stephen Curry to record a 125-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Curry is averaging 35 points on 24-of-36 shooting -- including 16-of-26 from 3-point range -- in the past two games after missing the previous 11 contests because of an ankle injury.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (30-8): Golden State has allowed its two highest point totals of the season in the past two games and coach Steve Kerr was displeased with his team's lack of discipline against Dallas. "It was like grade-school the last few minutes, it really was," Kerr told reporters afterward. "But Steph made the huge shot, Draymond set the great screen and we were able to come away with it but some of the lack of focus was astounding." Curry scored 32 points, while forward Kevin Durant and shooting guard Klay Thompson each scored 25 points against the Mavericks.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (27-9): Journeyman Gerald Green received 28 minutes of playing time in his fourth game with the squad and went 7-of-10 from 3-point range and scored 27 points against Orlando. "Chris (Paul) did a great job of getting me going early," Green told reporters while referring to the team's point guard. "My rhythm felt really good and I was able to knock down shots. Everybody knows we can score, but people underestimate that when we do lock down (on defense), we lock down." Green's offense was needed on a night in which Paul (eight points on 3-of-13 shooting) and Eric Gordon (17 on 5-of-16 shooting) shot a combined 27.6 percent from the field.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams combined for 31 3-pointers (16 by the Warriors) when the Rockets posted a 122-121 season-opening road win on Oct. 17.

2. Houston has dropped 11 of the last 13 regular-season meetings with the Warriors -- including six straight on its home floor.

3. Golden State F Andre Iguodala (back, hip) is slated to play after sitting out Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Warriors 130, Rockets 125