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Unbeaten Rockets, Warriors clash in Space City

Nov 8, 2014 - 2:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Something's got to give Saturday night when two undefeated teams, the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, face off at the Toyota Center.

The last time the Rockets started 6-0 was the 1996-97 season. The last time they began 7-0 was the 1994-95 campaign and all the Rockets did that season was win the NBA title.

The 1994-95 season was also the last time the Warriors reached 5-0. Golden State kicked off this campaign 4-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history.

This marquee matchup features two of three teams in the NBA that are in the top 10 in both scoring and opponents' scoring. (Chicago is also in that exclusive company.)

The Warriors lead the NBA in scoring at 109.5 ppg, while the Rockets are fifth at 104.3 ppg. Houston, somewhat surprisingly, are second defensively at 89.7 ppg and Golden State is fifth at 93.8 ppg.

For the Rockets, this has been an amazing start, but one tainted a bit by the strength of schedule. Houston's victories have come against the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich rested future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

"Our next few games, we're going to be tested defensively, but we're looking forward to those tests," said coach Kevin McHale.

The Rockets thumped the Spurs Thursday night Houston, 98-81, in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.

Dwight Howard had a field day with Tim Duncan sidelined, totaling 32 points and 16 rebounds. Howard shot 12-of-18 from the field and 8-of-13 from the foul line for a Houston squad that has won all six of its games by double digits. The only other team to accomplish that feat was the 1985-86 Nuggets.

"It really didn't matter who they had on the floor. It's my job to go out there and set the intensity," Howard said.

James Harden contributed 20 points, six boards and six assists, and Jason Terry added 16 points off the bench in the rout.

The Warriors remained perfect on the season with a 121-104 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.

Stephen Curry had 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead Golden State.

Draymond Green posted 24 points, eight boards and five assists, while the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, Klay Thompson, netted 19 points for the Warriors, who shot an NBA season-high 58.1 percent (43-of-74) from the floor.

"I liked the ball movement ... I feel like we can get a lot better," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

David Lee made his season debut after a hamstring injury, but his return was brief. He aggravated the injury and left after less than six minutes. Lee won't make the road trip with the team, which ends Saturday in Phoenix against the Suns.

These teams have had some history in recent seasons, including a little skirmish two seasons ago when the Rockets were trying to set an NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a game.

The Rockets took two of three against the Warriors last season and are 10-3 in the last 13 versus Golden State. Houston has won 10 of the last 11 as the host in this series.