The Golden State Warriors carry a four-game winning streak into a four-game road trip Tuesday night when they visit the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets.
The Warriors have picked up two home wins and two road wins on their recent streak. Golden State has scored over 100 points in five straight and will take the Western Conference Player of the Week into action.
David Lee, who was named to his second All-Star game, averaged 18.0 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 7.8 apg and shot 51.7 percent from the field last week where all four victories during this run occurred. He became the first player since Kevin Garnett in 2003 to post four consecutive games with at least 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
"It goes back to us being 4-0 last week," said Lee. "I'm happy I could do my part. I'm really excited about the honor. It comes from the team's success first."
In their last victory Saturday against the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors put the game away in the second half. Golden State outscored Phoenix, 65-43 in the final two frames to win handily, 113-93.
Now, a very difficult road trip awaits, starting with the Rockets, then it's the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks before returning home.
The Warriors are 14-11 on the road and 15-12 against the Western Conference.
The Rockets have won of their last five and five of their last seven. Their most recent victory came on Saturday night when they showed very little home hospitality in a 109-95 trouncing of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Against the Bobcats, James Harden recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Chandler Parsons and Patrick Patterson both had 24 points and Parsons grabbed 10 boards.
Omer Asik was outstanding as well. He netted 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Over his last three games, Asik averaged 17.7 rpg in less than 31 minutes a game and has swept 47 percent of the opponents' missed shots. Reggie Evans leads the NBA collecting 35.6 percent of opponent's misses.
"It's huge," said Jeremy Lin about Asik's rebounding. "You look at his plus- minus and things like that; he affects the floor (in so many ways) getting defensive rebounds and all that stuff. When he's not in the game we're definitely hurting on the glass. He's big time."
Lin tweaked his left ankle in practice on Monday, but is expected to play Tuesday night.
The Rockets have owned this matchup in recent history with 14 wins in their last 16 battles. The Warriors have lost eight straight in Houston with their last victory there coming on Dec. 31, 2007.
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