(SportsNetwork.com) - The road ahead for the Washington Wizards could be a rocky one, as they open a five-game western jaunt Monday against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
The Wizards and Rockets have identical 21-8 records.
The Wizards will also make stops in Dallas, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New Orleans, and are 7-4 as the guest. They have won three in a row on the road.
Washington is coming off a 101-88 decision over the Boston Celtics on Saturday and was paced by Kris Humphries off the bench. Humphries scored 18 points and Paul Pierce added 17 for the Wizards, who shot 50 percent for the game and received 12 points apiece from John Wall and Otto Porter.
"Feeling good, it's around the New Year's, this is when I start to turn up my game," Pierce said.
Humphries has picked up his game the last two times out and is averaging 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in that span. Wall is averaging 17.4 points this month for Washington, which is 6-2 against Western foes and has won 12 of 15 games.
The Wizards are averaging 103.6 ppg in December (14 games).
Houston will make a quick turnaround Monday and came up short in a 110-106 loss at San Antonio on Sunday. James Harden (28), Corey Brewer (25) and Dwight Howard (24) all scored 20 or more points in a losing cause.
Howard grabbed 17 rebounds and Josh Smith finished with five points in his second game with the Rockets, who have lost three of five games after winning 10 of the previous 12 contests.
The Rockets made 49.4 percent of their shots, but turned the ball over 25 times, leading to 27 San Antonio points. The game featured 13 ties and 20 lead changes.
"Too many turnovers," said Harden, who was responsible for nine. "That loss was on us. And myself."
Howard and Smith each had four turnovers.
Houston will also host Charlotte on this quick stay in Space City and has a 10-5 record at home this season.
The Rockets and Wizards will play the first of two matchups this season and are slated to meet again March 29 in DC. Houston took both meetings with Washington last season and are 22-6 in the last 28 games in this series.
The Wizards have lost five in a row, 11 of 12 and 21 of their last 24 trips to Space City.
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