Current NBA champion San Antonio Spurs will clash with long-time Interstate 10 rival Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Thursday at 8 p.m.

The Rockets left the Spurs winless in their four bouts the past season. This time, will the Rockets still launch another victory at their home base?

Not so fast, according to Bleacher Report as it said the Spurs have been the epitome of professionalism and consistency. In addition, San Antonio still has its principal trio -- Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

The contracts of Duncan and Ginobili are set to expire at the end of the season, putting an expectation for the two of the Spurs' seasoned core to deliver more wins, and thus, more championships, Bleacher Report said.

ESPN's Marc Stein, meanwhile, put the Houston Rockets three notches up from last week's NBA Power Rankings. The ninth place of the Rockets, however, is still far from the Spur's top spot (out of total 30 teams).

Stein said on the San Antonio team, "Quite a week looming for the champs. Tim Duncan is in fine form and Kawhi Leonard has finally returned from three weeks' worth of eye issues, but Thursday night calls for a visit to Houston after going 0-4 against the Rockets last season followed by this season's first TD-Anthony Davis duel at home."

Based on NBA statistics, however, the Rockets' shooting guard, James Harden, beats Spurs' point guard Parker in terms of points per game (27.2-19.7) and assists per game (7.4-5.3).

"You've got the most dominant big man in the league roaming around the rim so somebody has to take him," Harden told Sportsnet.ca. "And then you have tremendous shooters on the wing. It's pretty hard to guard."

The Spurs, on the other hand, gain the advantage in both rebounds and blocks per game, with Duncan (RPG - 11.7, BPG - 2.7) against Rockets' Dwight Howard (RPG - 10.6, BPG - 1.8).

The Spurs-Rockets rivalry traces its roots in 1976 when the Spurs moved from the American Basketball Association. The two teams competed for the division title with the Rockets winning it first in 1977, then Spurs snatching the titles in 1978 and 1979.

Together with the Dallas Mavericks, the three teams compose the Texas Triangle -- the home of the prospective champions, especially of the Eastern conference, according to Bleacher Report.

The game will be aired on Fox Sports South and Southwest channels but fans may also tune in on their radio at 92.9 The Game, WIOL, WOAI and KKTX.

Live streaming is available at this site or fans may avail of the one-time fee NBA All-Access Member pass.