Warriors at Rockets
Time: 5:30 p.m. PT
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
Coaches: Steve Kerr, 4th season with Warriors (244-48 with Warriors and overall); Mike D’Antoni, 2nd season with Rockets (86-39 with Rockets and 541-465 overall)
On air: TV on ABC; Radio on 95.7 The Game
Records: Warriors (37-9); Rockets (31-12)
Projected starters: Warriors: PG Stephen Curry (27.7 ppg, 6.5 apg), SG Klay Thompson (20.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg), SF Kevin Durant (26.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg), PF Draymond Green (11.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.6 apg), C Zaza Pachulia (5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Rockets: PG Chris Paul (18.7 ppg, 9.1 apg), SG James Harden (31.7 ppg, 9.0 apg), SF Luc Mbah a Moute (7.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg), PF Ryan Anderson (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), C Clint Capela (14.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg).
Warriors injury report: PF Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) is out. SF Andre Iguodala (left calf contusion) is questionable.
Rockets injury report: SF Trevor Ariza (suspension), SG Gerald Green (suspension), C Chinanu Onuaku (sinus surgery) and PF Zhou Qi (right elbow surgery) are out.
Line: Warriors by 4 points
Things to watch:
>>> How much will James Harden change things? Two weeks ago, when the Warriors beat the Rockets by 10 points in Houston, Harden was sidelined by a hamstring strain. In his first game back Thursday, Harden showed some rust, mustering only 10 points in 26 minutes on 3-for-15 shooting. However, don’t be mistaken: He is still firmly entrenched in the MVP discussion. Harden is averaging 31.7 points, nine assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. For the first time since its season-opening loss to Houston, Golden State will face a Rockets team with both Harden and Chris Paul.
>>> Is Kevon Looney poised for another big night? In the Warriors’ Jan. 4 win over the Rockets, Looney posted seven points and a career-high-tying eight rebounds after barely playing in more than a month. His ability to switch off screens onto guards was an asset against a small-ball, up-tempo Houston team that hoists three-pointers at a record-setting rate. In his past four games, Looney is averaging 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. Now, with Jordan Bell sidelined at least two weeks with an ankle injury, Looney is in line for even more consistent playing time. He could be a big factor Saturday.
>>> Can the Warriors make history? With a victory Saturday night in Houston, Golden State would set a franchise record with its 15th consecutive road win. Only two teams in NBA history — the 1971-72 Lakers (16) and the 1994-95 Jazz (15) — have boasted such a long road winning streak. In recent years, few cities have been kinder to the Warriors than Houston. The last time Golden State lost a road game to the Rockets was Dec. 6, 2013, a stretch of seven meetings. Extending that streak to eight Saturday would make the Warriors the first team in NBA history to sweep two trips of at least five games in the same season.
Quotable: “As happy as I’ve been with his play, I’m most happy with his health. He played 32 minutes the other night, and he had never played that much in his career. He had a couple hip surgeries early in his career. He worked so hard to get himself in shape, get his body right and he’s holding up really well. That’s the main thing.” — Steve Kerr on Kevon Looney
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] . Twitter: @Con_Chron