Rockets 108, Pelicans 101
HOUSTON -- Guard James Harden posted a double-double, and three Houston reserves scored in double figures for the first time this season as the Rockets clawed out a 108-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Harden finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds while adding six assists. He didn't hit his first 3-pointer until the 3:15 mark of the fourth quarter, a huge basket that pushed the Rockets (8-11) to a 99-92 lead.
Forward Terrence Jones (15 points), swingman Corey Brewer (14) and guard Ty Lawson (12 points and six assists) delivered off the Houston bench. Forward Trevor Ariza added 13 points and guard Patrick Beverley had 10 for Houston.
A 16-5 run midway through the third quarter enabled the Rockets to wrestle some semblance of control, with guard Marcus Thornton converting a baseline drive into an 84-75 lead with 1:15 left in the period.
After reserve guard Toney Douglas delivered New Orleans its final lead of the night at 87-86 with a 3-pointer at the 8:56 mark of the fourth, Harden scored on a post fadeaway and converted a three-point play before Ariza sank a 3-pointer. When Beverley added a transition layup off a turnover, the lead was 96-87.
The Pelicans (4-15) were undone by their 23 turnovers, which Houston turned into 27 points. Pelicans forward Anthony Davis paired a game-high 29 points with 13 rebounds, while forward Ryan Anderson added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
The Rockets' offensive misery was on full display in the first quarter, even against a Pelicans team ranked dead last in the NBA in defense. Houston missed nine of its first 10 shots, enabling the Pelicans to dart to a 13-4 lead. New Orleans closed the period with a 12-point lead, limiting Houston to its season-low for the first quarter with 17 points.
Houston relied upon depth to forge a comeback, with six players scoring during an 18-3 run that erased the Pelicans' 36-22 lead. The Rockets grabbed their first lead at 40-39 when Ariza completed a three-point play with 4:18 left in the half, but the Pelicans tallied seven consecutive points to reclaim an advantage they held into the third.
NOTES: Rockets F/C Donatas Motiejunas was cleared to return to practice this week, a significant step forward after back surgery late last season. Motiejunas missed the final 11 regular-season games and the postseason and has yet to suit up for the Rockets this season. ... Pelicans G Jrue Holiday (rest) was a healthy scratch after logging 26 minutes in a loss to the Grizzlies on Monday night. Holiday has been under a minutes restriction after an injury-marred 2014-15 season and had played in six consecutive games before Tuesday, averaging 20.9 minutes during that stretch. ... Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff pledged to lessen the minutes load on Rockets G James Harden, who was averaging a career-high 39.7 minutes per game this season. Harden led the NBA in minutes last season (2,981) and finished second to Bulls G Jimmy Butler in minutes per game (36.8).