PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks have won 11 games in a row and look quite mighty these days , arriving in Houston as one of the league's hottest teams. With their 135-120 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, the Hawks extended their current winning streak to 11 games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history . What makes Atlanta particularly dangerous is their offensive structure: they rank 1st in high spacing on offense and 1st in good passing , creating constant movement and rhythm that keeps defenses scrambling. The Hawks have established a viable core paced by the quartet of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and supported by veteran guard CJ McCollum. The Rockets, conversely, are spiraling, having dropped both decisions of a two-game set against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, including a 124-116 loss on Wednesday that dropped Houston into a tie for fifth in the West with the Denver Nuggets . Houston's approach reflects different strengths and weaknesses: the Rockets rank 1st in good offensive rebounding but 29th in slow tempo and 30th in bad defensive rebounding , creating an imbalanced profile that struggles against quick, perimeter-oriented teams. While their defense remains eighth in the NBA in efficiency, the Rockets used a new wrinkle to help center Alperen Sengun and guard Reed Sheppard defend better in the pick-and-roll . This matchup pits Atlanta's fluid spacing and precision passing directly against Houston's interior dominance and defensive adjustments, setting up a fascinating clash of contrasting philosophies.