Clippers @ Rockets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Clippers (2-2)

@ Houston Rockets (1-3)

Current odds:

Los Angeles Clippers: (+150)

Houston Rockets: (-170)

• The line for this game is Rockets by 4 points.

• The Houston Rockets will be without star guard James Harden when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Harden will miss at least two games after suffering a strained left hamstring during Wednesday’s 100-89 loss to the Utah Jazz. Harden sustained the injury during the fourth quarter of the game against the Jazz and an MRI exam performed on Thursday pinpointed the damage. The reigning MVP will also miss Tuesday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers before being re-examined next week prior to the Rockets beginning a five-game road trip.

• The Clippers are coming off a 116-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday in the first game of a stretch in which five of six are on the road. Los Angeles recorded a 115-112 home win over the Rockets last Sunday when forwards Tobias Harris (23) and Danilo Gallinari (20) combined for 43 points.

• Harris is leading Los Angeles with a 23.5 average and Gallinari is right behind at 21.5 and both players have scored 20 or more in each of the past three games. The Clippers are receiving poor production from shooting guard Avery Bradley, who is averaging 4.3 points on 8-of-31 shooting, including two 1-for-8 efforts. Potent reserve guard Lou Williams is shooting just 35.8 percent from the field while averaging 15 points and has yet to record his first 20-point outing of the campaign.

• Houston will have point guard Chris Paul back in the lineup after he served a two-game suspension for his recent scrap with Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers. “Obviously, we’d love to have the team full strength, but right now we’re sort of dealing with the injury bug,” Paul told reporters Thursday while referencing Harden’s injury. “We just need to get past it and just hoop, pile up some wins. We’ll just try to weather the storm. I’d rather it be now than April or something like that. We’ll just try to figure it out.” The Rockets went 65-17 last season, so the slow start is surprising but not worrisome to coach Mike D’Antoni, who said “this team to going to be really good. We just got to hang in there for a little bit and go through some growing pains.”

• Harden had 31 points and 14 assists in the recent loss to the Clippers.

• Los Angeles PF Montrezl Harrell recorded 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game against the Rockets.

• Houston SF James Ennis (hamstring) will miss his second straight game, while C Nene (calf) suffered a setback and will miss at least two more weeks.