James Harden returned from a one-game injury with 28 points, 6 points, and 6 assists on Monday as the Rockets dominated a Texas rival for a second consecutive night, defeating the Spurs 109-93 at Toyota Center. - With the win, Houston (53-14) extends its lead for the top spot in the Western Conference to two games (plus the tiebreaker) over Golden State (51-16). - Chris Paul (18 points, 9 assists, 8-of-11 FG in 23 minutes) was by far the most efficient player on the Rockets, who shot an uncharacteristic 13-of-44 (29.5%) from behind the three-point arc after playing five games in the past seven nights. But the tired legs on perimeter shots ultimately didn't matter, since the Rockets dominated San Antonio on the inside with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 50-36 edge in rebounding. - Our postgame show explores those themes and much more, including the potential for a Rockets vs. Spurs matchup in the first round of the playoffs — but with injured Spur Kawhi Leonard back in action. Besides tonight's storylines, the recap also examines why the playoff possibility may not be as likely or scary as some pundits appear to believe. - #Rockets #NBA #Spurs - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices