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Rockets aim to build on big win, take on lowly Bobcats

Mar 14, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets received a much-needed confidence boost with a win over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and will carry that momentum back home tonight in a showdown versus the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

Houston lost five in a row before recording two wins over its last three games and handed the Thunder a 104-103 setback Tuesday night in the finale of a five-game road trip (2-3). Courtney Lee's three-pointer with 31.9 seconds to go in the game kept the Rockets ahead for good and both Lee and Chandler Parsons finished with 21 points. Luis Scola had 18 points for the Rockets, who erased an 11-point deficit in the waning minutes.

"We never gave up. That was the most important thing," said Lee. "They found something that was working for them, so we had to try to give them different looks."

The Rockets played without leading scorer Kevin Martin because of a strained right shoulder and he could also miss Wednesday's game. Rockets guard Kyle Lowry is already sidelined due to a bacterial infection.

Houston hopes to snap a two-game home skid tonight and owns a 15-6 record in Space City this season.

Charlotte will resume a four-game road trip tonight and ended a three-game losing streak with Monday's 73-71 win at New Orleans. Bobcats big man Bismack Biyombo made the highlight reels with his block on Trevor Ariza in a dunk attempt during the final moments of the game to secure the Bobcats' sixth win of the season.

"That was awesome," Charlotte coach Paul Silas remarked.

Gerald Henderson scored 15 points and Kemba Walker had 14 off the bench, while Biyombo added a career-high 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks for the Bobcats, who are 1-1 on the trek, 3-19 as the visitor and won for the second time in 10 tries overall. The Bobcats are last in the Southeast standings.

Bobcats leading scorer Corey Maggette left the game with back spasms and scored two points in less than 10 minutes. He is questionable for tonight's game and is averaging 15.5 ppg. Maggette had scored 19 or more points in five straight games, posting 23.7 points in that run. He had scored in double figures in 14 straight games, averaging 18.8 points during that stretch.

Over his last five games, Biyombo owns averages of 8.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. Walker is averaging is averaging 13.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 12 of his previous 17 contests.

Charlotte will close out the road swing in Dallas on Thursday and dropped an 82-70 decision versus Houston at home back on Jan. 10 this season. The Rockets have won 10 of the 15 meetings between the teams, including six straight at the Toyota Center.