Matchup - Houston Rockets (7-5) at Seattle SuperSonics (5-8)

When - 7:05 p.m., KeyArena TV - None

Radio - 950-AM

Series - This is the first of four meetings. The teams split four games last season. Only one of those games was decided by more than seven points. Seattle leads the all-time series, 84-69.

Scouting report - This has become Steve Francis' team. The third-year guard leads Houston in scoring (21.3 points), assists (5.8) and rebounding (7.9). The latter is the highest rebounding average among guards. Francis is one of five players to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He teams with Cuttino Mobley to form the NBA's third-highest-scoring backcourt tandem, averaging 38.3 points. ... Forward-center Kevin Willis is in his 18th season, and ranks 13th in NBA games played. On the other side, rookie forward Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall is the first teenager to play for the Rockets. On opening day he was 19 years, 152 days old. ... Tierre Brown, Jason Collier and Maurice Taylor are on the injured list for Houston.

Next - 4 p.m. Sunday, vs. Indiana Pacers, KeyArena.