Eventually, Trevor Ariza will be back in the right corner, where no one takes or makes as many 3-pointers. But Sunday against Oklahoma City, and likely for the next two weeks, he will have more room to operate.

The injury to Ryan Anderson necessitated moving Ariza to power forward, where, in the Rockets' offense, he could do more than catch-and-shoot.

The changes were subtle and perhaps secondary to the marksmanship that led to the Rockets' best shooting game (63.3 percent) since the 1994-95 season.

But as the Rockets head into the first of this week's two games against Golden State on Tuesday night, there are similarities to the Warriors in the way the Rockets attacked the Thunder from every direction - from Ariza's drives to the lights-out shooting of Eric Gordon and Lou Williams.

"As long as we play like we did last night, man, I take our chances over anybody," said Gordon, who scored 24 points in the Rockets' 137-125 victory over Oklahoma City. "It's fun. We score all the points we want, and we just played pretty good defense. As long as we play defense and share the ball like we did, it's a fun game."

There are significant differences between the offenses of the Rockets and Warriors, specifically the James Harden pick-and-rolls that trigger nearly every Rockets possession when he is on the court. But the top two offensive teams in the NBA are similar in their spacing on the court that has produced the most prolific 3-point shooting attacks in NBA history - the Rockets are eight 3-pointers from breaking the Warriors' single-season record - and the way the teams' sensational point guards force opponents into pick-your-poison choices.

"We do a lot more pick-and-rolls; they do a lot more cutting and back-screening," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But it's all based on pretty good ball movement, spacing and good shooting. They're really good at it, and we're trying to get there."

The Warriors average 115.9 points per game; the Rockets 115.8. Rarely have the teams appeared to be more alike than when the Rockets had to adjust for Anderson's absence, which led to Ariza enjoying playmaking moments reminiscent of Golden State's Draymond Green.

"He was great," D'Antoni said of Ariza, who scored 24 points and had six 3-pointers. "That's huge that he can do that. He picked the right spots and made the right passes. I think he has more opportunities from that slot as opposed to in the corner. It's hard in the corner. Where he was, he was getting it and ripping it. Obviously, making the first three 3s, puts them in a little bit of a frenzy where they're out on him. Now, he went by them so he set that up pretty good."

Ariza also had six assists, which is a bit shy of Green's average of 7.1. Ariza averages just 2.2 assists per game, but in the four games he has started at power forward, he has averaged five assists, obviously taking advantage of the move out of the corner and toward the top of the 3-point circle.

"When you have a marquee scorer, you have to trap him," Ariza said. "(The Warriors) found a four man who can be a playmaker. He's like a point guard over there. He just makes plays.

"I just read the defense a bit, played my game. In this offense, it's easier. With your basketball IQ, you use that. If you're open, you shoot it. If nobody's in front of you, then you drive it. Somebody steps up, pass it. Simple. Our wings are more in the corner than on top of the floor. Yesterday, I was on top of the floor. The lane's a bit open more. You get to read the court better."

The Warriors will defend the Rockets differently than the Thunder did Sunday. Golden State likes to switch on screens far more often and stay with the 3-point shooters. Even without Kevin Durant, who makes that style especially effective, the Warriors have climbed into a tie with San Antonio for the best defensive rating in the NBA.

The Rockets' 3-point shooting failed them in their 125-108 loss to Golden State on Jan. 20, but they believe their offense, prolific as it was then, has progressed. In 15 games since the All-Star break, the Rockets have the top-rated offense in the league, averaging 116.1 points per 100 possessions and a league-leading 120.9 points a game.

"Offensively, we just have to continue to be unselfish," Gordon said. "Less dribbling and more passing. That's what we did (Sunday). Everybody got good looks. Yeah, everybody was on fire, but it's all about getting a good look at the rim. It was definitely fun."

"You have to enjoy some of these battles before the playoffs come. We're looking forward to it. You have to enjoy every moment of it."