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The Houston Rockets will try to get back on track Thursday versus the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Toyota Center. The Rockets had a four-game winning streak come to an end with Wednesday's 120-113 loss to the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. James Harden scored 26 points and handed out 10 assists, while former Magic icon Dwight Howard scored 23 points and Patrick Beverley added 17.
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Trevor Ariza and Donatas Motiejunas scored 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Rockets, who shot 50.6 percent and turned the ball over 21 times.
Howard was back in Orlando and talked about his return.
"It's always fun to play here, come back and think about those great times we had here," Howard said. "I'll always have love for this city."
Houston will also entertain Golden State and Indiana on this homestand and is 13-6 as the host this season.
Meanwhile, the Thunder ended a two-game slide with last Friday's 99-94 victory over the Utah Jazz and were led by Kevin Durant's 32 points on 14-of-21 shooting.
Russell Westbrook scored 25 points and dished out 12 assists for Oklahoma City, which won for the fifth time in the past eight contests. Dion Waiters scored 15 points off the bench in his second game with the Thunder.
"It's a lot different, I'm able to play," Waiters said.
The game was the 500th behind the bench for Thunder head coach Scott Brooks.
OKC will try to stop a three-game slide on the road and has a 7-12 record away from home this season.
Houston defeated Oklahoma City, 69-65, on Nov. 16 this season, as Harden scored 19 points and Reggie Jackson countered with 15 and 11 rebounds. The Rockets and Thunder will meet again April 5.
The Rockets have won two in a row against the Thunder after losing the previous four meetings.
[SportsNetwork.com]
