Pelicans at Rockets
James Harden and the Houston Rockets are controlling the pace of play and racking up victories. Harden has posted five triple-doubles this season and fast-paced Houston seeks its ninth straight win when it hosts the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Harden's latest triple-double was the 14th of his Houston tenure to match Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon for the most in franchise history. The Rockets are averaging 120.8 points during their winning streak and matched their season-best output for points with Wednesday's 132-98 drubbing of the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is trying to dig itself out of an early-season hole and played solid basketball in Thursday's 102-95 home victory over the Indiana Pacers. Star power forward Anthony Davis contributed 35 points, 16 rebounds and matched his season high of five blocked shots while rookie shooting guard Buddy Hield enjoyed his best game of the season with 21 points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, ROOT (Houston)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (9-18): Hield has struggled to find his niche but he displayed his potential while knocking down a season-best five 3-pointers against the Pacers. Hield has tallied 15 or more points in three of the past seven games after being in single digits in each of the previous 10 contests. "It's good to see Buddy step up the way he did and I still think he can shoot it even better than he did," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said afterward. "He's just learning what a good shot is, when he should shoot it and when he should try to drive it."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (19-7): Houston drained 22-of-42 3-pointers in the rout of the Kings, falling one shy of the NBA mark that the franchise (Feb. 5, 2013) shares with the Orlando Magic (Jan. 13, 2009). The Rockets matched a franchise mark by making 15 or more 3-pointers in three consecutive games and extended their NBA record of making 10 or more to 25 games. "We don't go out and try to take a particular number," Rockets guard Pat Beverley told reporters. "It's how it works out. We shoot open 3s. We shoot them fast. We're confident. The coaching staff is confident on our abilities."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Rockets won five of the past six meetings.
2. New Orleans G Tyreke Evans (knee) made his season debut on Thursday and scored seven points in 11 minutes but didn't travel with the team to Houston.
3. Houston signed journeyman G Bobby Brown and renounced its rights to PF Donatas Motiejunas, making the fifth-year pro a free agent.