Toronto Raptors @ Houston Rockets live on Sky Sports
Saturday 26 January 2019 07:51, UK
Houston Rockets play Toronto Raptors live on Sky Sports USA from 1am on Saturday morning.
Live NBA: Toronto @ Houston
James Harden, the reigning NBA MVP and the Rockets' best player, is the player to keep an eye on.
He scored a career-high 61 points in the Rockets' last game against the Knicks, the most any individual has scored in any game this season, and the high-point of an astonishing run of form.
He has scored at least 30 points in 21 consecutive games, the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain was responsible for the other three.
Harden is averaging 43.1 points per game
It was no surprise on Friday morning to see Harden named alongside LeBron James and Steph Curry as an All-Star starter for the Western Conference.
Chris Paul's injury status has been changed to 'questionable' for this game, which is an upgrade. He has been out for a month with a hamstring issue.
Brandon Knight's status is the same. He missed the first 25 games, and the most recent six, with a knee injury.
Key battle - Harden being guarded by one of the NBA's top defensive talents, Kawhi Leonard, is the stuff of dreams. Two All-Stars going head to head like this is unmissable.
Last time out
Numbers game - Harden's 61 points in the last game was a season-high benchmark. Kobe Bryant scored 81 in 2006 against… you guessed it… the Toronto Raptors.
One to watch (Toronto Raptors) - Kawhi Leonard is their best player and has been rested recently with one eye on this game. Leonard has sat out four games in a row.
He has also been named as an All-Star for the Eastern Conference, meaning Toronto have had representation for five years in a row.
Worryingly, reports Leonard has recently bought a new house in his home city of Los Angeles has led to speculation that he could leave Toronto. He is a free agent at the end of this season.
One to watch (Houston Rockets) - Eric Gordon is the player that Houston look to, beyond Harden. He scored 20 in their last game against the Knicks.
