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Raptors-Rockets Preview
Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets
- These teams have split their last 12 meetings overall. Houston has won each of its last five home games against Toronto, last losing to them at home back in February of 2007.
- Toronto is riding its second four-game losing streak of the season. However, each of the Raptors' last three games has been decided by five points or less.
- The Rockets have won each of their last two games overall, after winning just two of their previous nine contests. Houston will be looking to extend its current home winning streak to four in a row.
- Andrea Bargnani was held to a season-low four points against the Spurs on Sunday, after scoring 20+ points in each of his previous three contests.
- James Harden is averaging 30.3 points during Houston's three-game home winning streak. Harden is averaging 18.0 points in his career against Toronto -- the second-highest scoring average in his career against any opponent (18.8 vs. Charlotte).
- DeMar DeRozan is averaging just 15.6 points on the road this season, compared to 22.8 points at home. DeRozan is averaging 25.7 in his last three games against the Rockets.
By MIKE LIPKA
(AP) -- The Houston Rockets are coming off a resounding victory on the court, but the organization has since suffered a far more significant loss.
With coach Kevin McHale still away following the death of his 23-year-old daughter, the Rockets play on Tuesday night against Kyle Lowry and the visiting Toronto Raptors.
Kevin McHale has been away from the team since Nov. 10, and Alexandra "Sasha" McHale died Saturday. In a statement, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said the "entire organization is mourning."
Interim coach Kelvin Sampson said he spoke to Kevin McHale on Monday.
"He's doing funeral arrangements for his daughter," Sampson said. "He's very emotional. Tough time. That's his baby girl. Nothing else has to be said."
The sad news came after perhaps the Rockets' best performance of the season in Friday's 131-103 win over New York, Houston's second straight home victory following an 0-3 trip.
With Jeremy Lin facing his former team for the first time and contributing 13 points, the Rockets (6-7) were powered by 33 from James Harden and 31 from second-year standout Chandler Parsons, who is averaging 20.1 in his last seven games.
Parsons' 13-of-17 shooting was the biggest reason the Rockets hit a season-best 51.7 percent from the field and matched their highest point total since 1995.
"Chandler's just a winner," Sampson said. "Right now he's just in a groove."
Lin is still looking to get hot. He's shooting just 34.8 percent on the season and he's totaled nine assists and 12 turnovers in his last three games.
After his much-anticipated reunion with the Knicks, he gets a tough matchup with the point guard he replaced in Houston. Lowry, who spent three-plus seasons with the Rockets, will be facing them for the first time since being traded to the Raptors for a draft pick in July.
"I understand it's a business," Lowry said. "I never take anything personal involving trades. This league, you can't get too caught up in what happens when you get traded."
Although he missed six games with an ankle injury earlier this month, Lowry is back and continuing to make an impact for Toronto, averaging 18.3 points and 6.1 assists.
"He can do it all," Lin said. "He's a really good point guard, and I think he's underrated in a lot of ways, so I'll have my hands full."
The Raptors (3-11) have lost all four games since Lowry returned from his injury, although they led in the fourth quarter of each. Following consecutive one-point losses at Charlotte and Detroit, they forced San Antonio into a second overtime Sunday before falling 111-106.
Andrea Bargnani had a miserable afternoon, hitting 2 of 19 from the field and 0 of 7 from 3-point range to finish with a season-low four points. He had a season-high 34 in the previous game against the Pistons.
"Come hell or high water, he's our guy," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.
"We're in a process," Casey added. "And I know it doesn't look like it, and it sounds like a broken record, but we are getting better."
The Raptors have lost five straight in Houston to fall to 3-14 there all-time.
Sampson said the Rockets plan to wear black patches on their jerseys to honor Sasha McHale.
Updated November 26, 2012
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