The Houston Rockets are on a 4-0 winning streak because…James Harden of course. “It’s important that we keep him off the free throw line”.
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James Harden, the runner-up for MVP honors a season ago, poured in 23 points and perennial All-Star center Dwight Howard added 20 points and 17 boards for the Rockets, who had a four-game winning streak snapped after being outscored, 27-15, by the Nets over the final 12 minutes. Harden last week, appeared to shake off the shooting bug he had in the beginning of the season as he shot over 46 percent in three of the last four victories. Within a three minute stretch, he had a steal, 11-foot jumper, assist on and alley oop dunk to Howard, driving layup, rebound and putback layup.
Nets: Rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson started and played the first 7:49 of the game before sitting out until the fourth quarter.
The Nets were then carried to a very unlikely win by a very unlikely group, as the next 20 points were scored by Shane Larkin, Andrea Bargnani, Thomas Robinson and Bogdanovic, powering a 20-9 run that ended with Bogdanovic’s corner 3-pointer that ensured Brooklyn finally would get in the win column. Thornton, who missed the first two games, has started the last five games for Houston. He has been a solid help to the hometown favorite Harden.
“I think I’m progressing as the games go”, Young said. Howard, entering his 12 season, is not as durable as he has been in the past.
Toronto had a season-high point total. He’s the first Rockets player with back-to-back games of at least 43 points since Moses Malone did so in three straight February 26-March 2, 1982. The backup has averaged 8.6 points per game and about seven rebounds per game. Lopez finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots.
The second year center’s statistic that stands out most is that since November began, he is shooting 87 percent from the field. “We have to have conversations and watch a lot of film, which I did [Wednesday] to see where I can improve”.
A win against the Rockets will help them gain back a few respect and confidence and avoid being a forgotten team this early in the season.
The Rockets are getting healthier as well, with forward Terrence Jones and guard Patrick Beverley both expected to be available Wednesday.
Coming off a hard loss to the then-winless Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, the Houston Rockets tried to regroup at Thursday’s practice. It didn’t look like a different team, but it looked a little more like one that has a chance of winning more than, well, one game every eight tries.
Marcus Thornton got loose on a fast break with only one defender to beat. If these players can continue to dominate offensively and play well defensively alongside Harden, I expect the Rockets to easily take care of business and win at home. “They have to play better defense, they have to rebound, keep people out of the middle, it’s just not them, it’s a multitude of people”.
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Saturday, November 14- Dallas Mavericks- 7 p.m.
