Harden scores 40 in Rockets' blowout win
HOUSTON -- James Harden finished with his ninth 40-point game of the season as the Houston Rockets turned an early offensive burst into a 133-102 dismantling of the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night at Toyota Center.
Despite suffering an ankle injury that caused his delayed return to action in the second quarter, Harden finished with 40 points, six rebounds and eight assists in just 29 minutes.
Backcourt mate Patrick Beverley added 19 points and 10 rebounds and together the duo combined to make 12 of 19 shots from behind the arc.
Houston (40-17) extended its winning streak to four games while shooting 49.1 from the field, including 50 percent (18 of 36) on 3-pointers.
The Rockets led by as many as 40 points, scoring 20 points in transition and 27 after offensive rebounds. They improved to 3-0 against the Suns this season.
Phoenix (17-38) lost for the ninth time in 11 games. The Suns surrendered a 13-0 run to open the game and, trailing 77-53 at intermission, allowed the first nine points of the second half before Devin Booker sank a technical free throw.
The Suns did not made a field goal in the second half until Brandon Knight scored on a breakaway dunk with 8:17 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 91-56.
Booker scored a team-high 18 points and Phoenix forward T.J. Warren added 14. Center Alex Len had 13 points and eight rebounds before fouling out.
Booker snapped the Rockets' 13-0 start with a three-point play with 8:46 left in the first quarter only for Houston to follow with an 8-0 spurt that pushed the lead to 21-3.
Houston led by as many as 24 points in the first quarter before Suns forward Jared Dudley (12 points) emerged from the bench with 10 points to help cut the deficit to 38-24 entering the second quarter.
The Rockets were undaunted, even with Harden in the locker room, stretching the lead to 20 points before Harden returned and drilled back-to-back 3-pointers.
Houston's 77 first-half points were a season high. The Rockets reached 130 points for the eighth time this season.
NOTES: Suns G Eric Bledsoe (rest) missed his first game of the season. After enjoying an outstanding January with averages of 24.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists, Bledsoe has hit a physical wall, according to Suns coach Earl Watson. Phoenix has two additional games remaining before the NBA All-Star Game break. ... Rockets G Eric Gordon missed a second consecutive game with back soreness. Houston coach Mike D'Antoni described Gordon as "close" to returning and anticipates that Gordon will be available on Wednesday against the Miami Heat. ... With C Tyson Chandler (ankle/rest) and F Dragan Bender (right ankle surgery) not with the team, the Suns utilized a frontcourt rotation of Alex Len, Marquese Chriss and Alan Williams. Len served a one-game suspension on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls.