Houston Rockets at Toronto Raptors (-7, 215)

The Toronto Raptors will try to extend the longest home winning streak in franchise history when they take on the Houston Rockets on Sunday. The Raptors are 2-0 thus far on a seven-game homestand and have taken 12 straight at Air Canada Centre after a 117-115 victory over Portland on Friday.

DeMar DeRozan hit a team-record 24 free throws on 25 attempts in the contest as part of a season-high 38-point effort for Toronto, which enters 2 1/2 games behind first-place Cleveland in the Eastern Conference. "I was just taking what they were giving me, honestly," DeRozan told the media. "I wasn't trying to force anything. Every time I saw an angle I was trying to take advantage of it." This is the first meeting of the season between the Rockets and Raptors, who have split the season series nine straight times. Houston fell 108-100 at Chicago on Saturday and has lost 10 of 15 overall to leave it clinging by a game to the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), Sportsnet ONE (Toronto)

LINE HISTORY: The Raptors opened as 7-point home favorites, while the total opened at 215.

INJURY REPORT:

Rockets - PF T. Jones (questionable Sunday, illness).

Raptors - SF D. Carroll (out indefinitely, knee).

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Rockets (-0.9) - Raptors (-7.2) + home court (-3) = Raptors -9.3

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The fact is the Rockets are closer to the non-contenders in terms of rating than they are the playoff contenders. That's as disgraceful as James Harden's defense and now they're facing a team that has won 11 straight at home." - Covers Expert Power Sports.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (30-32, 26-35 ATS, 36-25 O/U): James Harden had a team-high 36 points in Friday's loss but needed 26 shots to get there and turned the ball over nine times, which gives him 17 giveaways against 15 assists over the last two games. The star guard is averaging 35.4 points in a span of seven road contests. He was 4-of-12 from 3-point range on Saturday for a team that has gone a woeful 12-of-70 in the last two games.

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (41-19, 33-27 ATS, 32-27-1 O/U): DeRozan's effort grabbed plenty of headlines, but so too did the 50-point night by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, whose performance highlighted Toronto's recent defensive downturn. "It's not like (our) guys are slacking or anything or just not giving an effort, it's just attention to detail and doing a few little things that will help us defensively and make it harder for (opponents) to make shots," coach Dwane Casey told the Toronto Sun on Saturday. The Raptors have allowed an average of 104.2 points - more than six over their season average - in the last nine games.

TWEET BEAT:

TRENDS:

* Rockets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games in the second half of a back-to-back.
* Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Southwest Division opponents.
* Over is 6-0 in Rockets last six games in the second half of a back-to-back.
* Over is 5-1 in Raptors last six overall.

COVERS CONSENSUS: Bettors are giving the edge to the Raptors on home court, with 59 percent of wagers on Toronto. As for the total, 68 percent of wagers are on the over.

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