Harden double-double carries Rockets past Suns
HOUSTON -- James Harden posted his 24th double-double and the Houston Rockets turned a breakout first quarter into a 131-115 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night at Toyota Center.
The Rockets (23-9) recorded their second victory over the Suns (9-22) in less than a week by establishing an early lead and not squandering it like they did last week in Phoenix, when Houston didn't pull away for good until the fourth quarter. The Rockets scored 39 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 34 points in the second half, draining 15 3-pointers en route to victory.
Harden finished with 32 points and 12 assists, his ninth 30-point, 10-assist game this season. Forward Ryan Anderson added 15 points, including 10 in the opening period, while forward Trevor Ariza posted eight points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Four other Rockets scored in double figures to carry the rout.
Phoenix, 26th in defensive rating entering Monday, allowed the Rockets to shoot 50 percent. Eric Bledsoe paced the Suns with 24 points while his backcourt mate Devin Booker chipped in 16 points.
Brandon Knight scored 21 points off the bench for the Suns.
Behind back-to-back 3-pointers from Anderson and Patrick Beverley, the Rockets dashed to a 10-2 lead. The Suns closed to within two points midway through the first quarter before the Rockets started to pull away by limiting Phoenix to a pair of field goals over a three-minute stretch while on a 14-4 run.
Trailing 51-27 following a 3 from Rockets reserve forward Corey Brewer, the Suns fashioned one last surge into contention, cobbling together a 14-4 run that sliced the deficit to 14 and forced a Rockets timeout. Houston responded by limiting Phoenix to one basket the remainder of the first half, with Harden converting an elbow jumper, two free throws and a layup to ignite a 14-2 run for a 69-43 lead.
Harden sank a 3 with 7:56 left in the third quarter to push the Rockets lead to 88-54.
NOTES: Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni announced that C Clint Capela will return at some point in January. Capela missed his fourth consecutive game Monday due to a small left fibula fracture that occurred at Minnesota on Dec. 17. ... With Capela sidelined, D'Antoni moved away from holding out veteran C Nene in back-to-backs, a practice he adhered to before Capela was lost. Nene played in both games of a back-to-back last week against the Spurs and Suns. The Rockets will play at Dallas on Tuesday night. ... Suns coach Earl Watson spoke to his insistence that the Oklahoma City Thunder draft James Harden in 2009 when Watson played for the team. Watson, who played at UCLA, was intimately familiar with Harden, who grew up in Los Angeles.