(Sports Network) - The red-hot Houston Rockets will put their 21-game winning streak to a major test tonight, when they wrap up a three-game homestand versus the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center.

Houston made it 21 consecutive wins with Friday's 89-80 decision over the Charlotte Bobcats in the opener of the homestand. Tracy McGrady poured in 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Rockets to the second-longest winning streak in NBA history. The current streak eclipsed the 20-game run by the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks. Only the 1971-72 Lakers, with their mind-boggling 33-game winning streak, are ahead of the Rockets.

Rafer Alston had 17 points and seven boards in the victory for the Rockets, who have incredibly won their last nine games without All-Star center Yao Ming. Ming is done for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot for Houston, which pulled into a dead heat with the Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference. Houston is also a half game ahead of New Orleans in the Southwest Division.

The Rockets have won 14 in a row as the host and are 25-9 at the Toyota Center this season. They will close out the homestand on Tuesday versus the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics.

Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles will resume a four-game road trip on Sunday, and is 22-12 as the visitor this season. The Lakers opened the swing with Friday's 108-98 loss at New Orleans, as Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 36 points and also grabbed nine rebounds.

Lakers new center Pau Gasol suffered a sprained left ankle late in the first quarter and did not return. Gasol sustained the injury when he stepped on the foot of teammate Vladimir Radmanovic, and had to be helped to the locker room. He is expected to miss at least the next three contests.

Los Angeles, which has dropped two of its last three games, will also visit Dallas and Utah on the current road trip. The Lakers, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of Phoenix in the Pacific Division standings, have won eight of their last 10 road games.

Sunday's showdown between LA and Houston is the third and final matchup of the regular season. Both teams have split a pair of games, while the Rockets have won three of four and six of the last 11 contests in the series.

The Lakers have won three of four and five of their last seven at Houston.