Celtics @ Rockets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Celtics (20-13)

@ Houston Rockets (18-15)

Current odds:

Boston Celtics: (-150)

Houston Rockets: (+130)

• The line for this game is Celtics by 3 points.

• A slow start to the season is in the rearview mirror as the Houston Rockets surge up the standings in the Western Conference with wins in seven of their last eight games. The Rockets will try to finish off a perfect three-game homestand when they host the Boston Celtics on Thursday. Houston was three games under .500 after a loss at Dallas on Dec. 8 but is taking advantage of a home-heavy portion of the schedule and benefitting from the MVP-level performance of James Harden in turning things around over the last two weeks.

• The Celtics have their own star guard playing at a high level in Kyrie Irving, who collected 40 points and 10 rebounds in a 121-114 overtime victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday. “I always talk about being on those big stages,” Irving told reporters. “It’s just so much fun. It’s competition at its highest. I love going against the best.”

• Boston is embarking on a three-game road trip having won 10 of its last 13 games with Irving leading the offense. “I think it’s – first of all, it’s him,” coach Brad Stevens told reporters of Irving. “Secondly, it’s a function of the one thing that I think we’ve gotten better at offensively over the last couple months – is spacing and early attack. And you know, he’s a big reason why, obviously. But our bigs are doing a good job hunting guys in transition. We’re playing with a little more tempo than we played with the first couple weeks.” Irving is averaging 25.3 points while shooting 44.9 percent from 3-point range in December.

• Harden scored 30 or more points in a career-high seven straight games, capped by 41 points in Tuesday’s triumph, and is averaging 39.9 points in that span. “(Our) record isn’t where we want it to be, but it’s getting there,” Harden told reporters. “We’re preparing for a postseason. We’re not going to be at our tip-top right now, which is a great thing, so we’ve got something to build to. We’ve had that confidence all year though, man.” Harden is also averaging 9.1 assists over the last seven contests and took over the NBA scoring lead at an average of 32.3 points.

• Celtics PF Marcus Morris is 13-of-23 from the floor in two games since returning from a knee injury.

• Rockets C Clint Capela grabbed 23 rebounds in each of the last two games.

• The teams split the two-game series in each of the last two seasons, with the home team winning each matchup.