Rockets ride Harden triple-double to victory
HOUSTON -- James Harden recorded his 11th triple-double and the Houston Rockets rode a late run in the second quarter into a 121-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night at Toyota Center,
Harden finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and the Rockets (31-9) needed his production after Charlotte (20-19) mounted an incredible fourth-quarter rally into the lead.
After Rockets reserve forward Corey Brewer sank a 3-pointer for a 108-90 lead with just over eight minutes left, the Hornets responded with a 21-2 rally. The Hornets nailed four consecutive 3s during that burst, two from forward Frank Kaminsky. When Kaminsky sank another trey with 2:27 left, Charlotte led 111-110.
Harden responded with an assist on a Ryan Anderson 3 before adding a pair of layups as Houston extended its winning streak to nine consecutive games. Brewer scored 15 points off the bench while forward Trevor Ariza added 16 points, Montrezl Harrell 14 points and Anderson 13.
Hornets guard Kemba Walker scored a team-high 25 points while Kaminsky (22 points) was one of three Charlotte reserves to score in double figures. Spencer Hawes scored a season-high 16 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter while Marco Belinelli added 15. Charlotte hit 19 3-pointers.
The Hornets' perimeter shooting erased an early 12-point deficit and forecast what was to come in the fourth. Charlotte drilled four 3-pointers in the first quarter and led 24-23 on a Belinelli basket before the Rockets closed the period with a 9-2 run to take a six-point lead into the second quarter.
It was more of the same for Houston in the second with Harden returning from his rest midway through the quarter to carry the Rockets into the intermission. Harden had a hand in 13 consecutive points for Houston, drilling two 3s and converting a driving layup while also assisting on a Nene alley-oop and an Anderson trey that pushed the advantage to 63-43. All told it was a 17-3 run, and Harden closed the half with 22 points as Houston kept its 20-point lead at 67-47 at the break.
When Charlotte drew to within 11 late in the third quarter, Houston closed the period on a 10-4 spurt, including a Harden 3, to keep its commanding lead. But when the Rockets threatened to coast to the finish, the Hornets blitzed their way back into the lead.
NOTES: Hornets G Nicolas Batum missed his second consecutive game with a hyperextended right knee sustained last week in a loss at Detroit. Batum was unavailable last Saturday against the Spurs in San Antonio and is expected to be sidelined 1-to-2 weeks. ... Rockets G Eric Gordon missed his first game of the season with a sprained left big toe. Gordon, who is second on the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game and the NBA leader with 145 3-pointers, is questionable for Wednesday night when Houston plays at Minnesota. ... Hornets C Cody Zeller was sidelined due to illness. Zeller made his return from a three-game concussion hiatus last Saturday against San Antonio. ... The Rockets won at least eight consecutive games for a second time this season, marking the third time in franchise history that they've had at least two eight-game winning streaks in a single campaign. Houston won 10 consecutive games Dec. 1-17.