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Rockets-Warriors Preview

Feb 8, 2016 - 9:00 PM Another one of the league's top scorers is coming to town to try to help snap the Golden State Warriors' home win streak.

James Harden has enjoyed some big efforts at Oracle Arena, but he and the Houston Rockets don't have fond memories of their last trip there.

The Warriors look to make it 42 straight in the regular season at home Tuesday night in Harden and the Rockets' first visit since last year's Western Conference finals.

Harden is averaging 27.8 points as one of the players Stephen Curry, averaging 29.8, is trying to hold off for his first scoring crown.

The reigning league MVP just faced a former scoring champ in Kevin Durant in Saturday's 116-108 victory over Oklahoma City. Durant scored 40 while Curry had 26 with 10 assists and was clutch with three baskets and two assists in a closing 12-4 run.

''This was very playoff-like for sure,'' Curry said. ''The atmosphere, just the intensity, the adrenaline down the stretch. That's what you expect for sure. It was good to get that feeling and execute."

Curry got the rare feeling of defeat Sunday, but not on the court. The Carolina Panthers fan was in attendance for their 24-10 loss to Denver in the Super Bowl.

Losing isn't something he has experienced in the regular season at home since a 113-111 overtime defeat to Chicago on Jan. 27, 2015. The 41-game streak is the second-longest in league history to the Bulls' 44-game run in 1995-96.

Harden and the Rockets (27-26) return to the Bay Area for the first time since losing 104-90 on May 27 in Game 5 of the West finals, as Curry scored 26 in the clinching game. Harden made 2 of 11 shots for 14 points with 12 turnovers - his highest amount in any game.

He nearly posted a pair of triple-doubles at Golden State (46-4) in the first two games of that series, averaging 33.0 points on 58.5 percent shooting along with 21 total rebounds and 18 assists.

Houston will be challenged to stay above .500 entering the All-Star break as it begins a two-game trip that includes Wednesday's game against Portland. The Rockets lost for the fourth time in six games and shot a season-low 32.5 percent in Saturday's 96-79 defeat to the Trail Blazers.

"On the road we've got two games, Golden State and Portland, the team that just beat us tonight so we've got to come out focused on both ends," said Harden, who scored 33 with 10 turnovers.

The Rockets will likely be without reserve forward Terrence Jones, who has missed the last two games with a concussion after a car accident Wednesday.

Golden State is 2-0 in the season series, winning the last meeting 114-110 on Dec. 31 behind Klay Thompson's 38 points despite playing without an injured Curry.

The Warriors have won nine straight overall despite shooting 26.9 percent on 3-pointers Saturday for their worst mark at home.

Houston averages a league-high 31.3 3-point attempts and Golden State is second with 30.2. Curry averages an NBA-high 10.7, with Harden (7.9) and Thompson (7.6) also among the league leaders.

The difference is that Golden State leads the NBA at 42.7 percent from long range while Houston is at 35.1.