The Houston Rockets (31-14) will try to provide an encore to their thrilling 114-112 win over the Boston Celtics when they play the Atlanta Hawks (22-24) on Tuesday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Tuesday will be the first meeting between the Rockets and Hawks this season.

Third-year forward Tari Eason has been a defensive menace for the Houston Rockets, coming off the bench to provide a major boost.

The Houston Rockets are officially one of the hottest teams in the NBA. In a Monday night bout with the Boston Celtics, second-year guard Amen Thompson received

Eason will be held out for rest Tuesday against the Hawks. Eason logged six points (2-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt), six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 25 minutes during Monday's 114-112 victory over Boston,

Struggles with shot

For the first time since Dec. 14, reserve forward Tari Eason (lower left leg soreness) is back playing for the Houston Rockets.

Tari Eason is cleared to play for Houston after he spent more than a month sidelined by soreness in his surgically repaired left leg.

As of Sunday night, the Rockets are sixth in the league in net rating at +6.1. Their defense is third in the league with a defensive rating of 107.3. But the offense has now crept all the way up to eleventh league-wide with an offensive rating of 113.4. Houston is inching closer to having both a top 10 defense and offense.

In a league that requires playoff scars to survive the championship gauntlet of four playoff rounds, the Rockets have none, and any team that has been there before will reveal theirs in a seven-game series. Houston, more than any other team, is one piece away from serious title contention.

Rockets F Tari Eason is making his return tonight vs the Kings after missing more than a month. Ime Udoka said the postponement of the Rockets’ game in ATL gave Eason an extra day

Getting maintenance Tuesday

The Houston Rockets are winners of two straight games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who held the best record in the NBA before their recent losing streak. Th