The Houston Rockets will face the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night in an NBA game free live streaming online in HD and iPhone. The game will be played at the Time Warner Cable Center in Charlotte at 7:00 PM ET

With or without their star center, Dwight Howard, Monday night in Charlotte, the streaking Rockets will go for their fourth straight victory as they continue to chase the Clippers for third place in the Western Conference.

After losing three straight with their big man on the floor, Houston (47-22) has won its last three while Howard rested a sore left ankle he had a cyst removed from Tuesday. He practiced Friday, but there's no word on his status against the Bobcats (34-36).

The Rockets have shot 54.7 percent during the current hot streak that includes victories over Utah, Minnesota and Cleveland by an average of nearly 23 points.

Omer Asik has started the last three games and is averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds, while small forward Terrence Jones has chipped in 18.0 points on 65.5 percent shooting. But on nights like Saturday, they don't mind watching Harden take over a game.

Houston remains 1 1/2 games behind the Clippers for the No. 3 spot in the West, while the Bobcats sit seventh in the East.

Advancing out of that spot to avoid Miami or Indiana in the first round of the playoffs remains within reach with 12 games to play, though making progress against the Rockets will require the Bobcats to end a six-game skid in the series.

More recently, the Bobcats have won seven of 10, including a much more promising offensive night in Saturday's 124-94 home victory over Portland to begin a three-game homestand. It was their highest-scoring game and largest victory margin this season.

The game will live stream at www.nbalivestreamfree.net