Harden, bench lift Rockets over Jazz
HOUSTON -- James Harden produced a double-double and the Houston Rockets bench helped carry the load in a 111-102 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday at Toyota Center.
While Harden finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds, the contributions of Nene (16 points, six rebounds) and Eric Gordon (20 points, seven rebounds, six assists) off the bench proved vital. Houston (8-5) overcame a dismal stretch of shooting in part because the reserves kept them afloat when Harden took his customary breaks.
The Houston bench produced 44 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists.
Rodney Hood and Trey Lyles combined for 46 points for Utah (7-7), which dropped its third consecutive game following a 4-1 swing through the Eastern Conference. Rudy Gobert added a double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds), and while the Jazz totaled only 14 turnovers, their early miscues fueled the Rockets.
Houston, meanwhile, finished with only five turnovers and closed plus-18 on shot attempts. Add that to a dynamic performance from center Clint Capela (20 points, eight rebounds, five assists) and a late barrage of 3s and Houston rolled to victory.
After the Jazz closed to within seven points in the fourth quarter, Gordon, Patrick Beverley and Gordon again drilled 3-pointers to push the advantage to 100-86.
While Harden carried the Rockets early in the first quarter, it was Nene who provided the early punch off the bench that defined the Rockets' evening. He scored nine points bridging the opening two periods and his dive at the rim pushed the Houston lead to 33-24 just over a minute into the second quarter.
With Nene serving as the fulcrum, Rockets reserves tallied 17 consecutive points between a Harden 3-pointer with 36.5 seconds left in the first quarter and a Capela layin at the 7:00 mark of the second. Houston pushed its lead to 16 points in the second quarter and that double-digit deficit provided just the right cushion.
NOTES: Jazz F Boris Diaw (right leg) dressed but was only available in an emergency. Diaw has played only five games this season and labored upon his return. But with Utah ravaged by injuries to rotation players, he suited up in the event that he would be needed. ... Rockets F Montrezl Harrell was downgraded to out because of a left calf contusion sustained in practice. ... With Rockets C Nene out for rest on Thursday, Harrell posted nine points, nine rebounds and three assists over 21 minutes in a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Jazz G George Hill missed his seventh consecutive game with a sprained right thumb. Hill was originally listed as questionable but was downgraded for he remains unable to grip a basketball.