Editor's note: The video above is interim coach Luke Walton's assessment of his team following a Dec. 31 win over Houston.
OAKLAND -– No fewer than three win streaks will be at stake for the Warriors when they take the court Tuesday night to face the visiting Rockets.
The defending champions have won nine in a row overall and their last 41 home games dating back to January 2015. They also own a seven-game regular-season win streak over struggling Houston.
The Warriors (46-4) and NBA scoring leader Stephen Curry hope to utilize their No. 1-ranked offense against a team that ranks 28th in defense.
The Rockets (27-26), coming off a season in which they reached the Western Conference Finals, have been perhaps the league’s most disappointing team, with more days below .500 than above.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 14.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Klay Thompson vs. James Harden. Put simply, Thompson is having a more efficient season than the man who insists he should have won the 2015 MVP trophy. Yet Harden, through his volume shooting –- he’s the only player in the league to reach 1,000 shots this season -– and overall inconsistencies remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the league. The Rockets won’t have much of a chance to win unless the NBA’s No. 2 scorer, who sustained a minor finger injury on Friday in Portland, is superb.
LAST 10
Warriors: 9-1. Rockets: 5-5.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) is listed as doubtful. C Festus Ezeli (L knee surgery) is listed as out.
[RELATED: Warriors 'keeping fingers crossed' for Ezeli; Speights gets chance]
Rockets: F Terrence Jones (concussion) is listed as doubtful. F Sam Dekker (low back pain) is listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors have won the last seven meetings in the regular season, their longest win streak over Houston since 1972-74 –- and have won 11 of the last 12 games including a five-game series victory in the 2015 Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are seeking their first ever back-to-back season sweep of the Rockets.
QUOTABLE
“It’s more just about the pride that I have in our guys and the way that they’ve played and conducted themselves on and off the floor. To have this record, to have this kind of energy and joy on the floor and be the role models they are ... I’m lucky to be part of this organization.” -– Warriors coach Steve Kerr, giving his perspective on the first half of season
