The Rockets' meeting with the Lakers will focus attention on stars, and particularly the Lakers' LeBron James and Rockets' James Harden and Chris Paul, but it is also a meeting of a pair of 36-year-old centers that have played well off the bench in recent games.
Tyson Chandler has averaged 7.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes in his 17 games since signing with the Lakers. Nene, in his fourth game this season, sparked the Rockets' rally on Tuesday, finishing with 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting and a pair of blocked shots in his 21 minutes.
"We've been playing a lot," Nene said of the many meetings with Chandler over the years.