Ex-Celtics coach Udoka hired to guide Rockets: reports

WASHINGTON -- Former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka has agreed on a deal to be hired as coach of the NBA's Houston Rockets, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

The Houston Chronicle and ESPN cited unnamed sources that said a deal had been struck for Udoka to take charge of a club that went 22-60 this past season, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive campaign.

Udoka, considered a top contender for the vacant Toronto Raptors job, was suspended by the Celtics for the 2022-23 season last September for an improper workplace relationship with a subordinate.

Celtics assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made Boston's interim head coach until handed the position on a permanent basis in February.

The Rockets spoke with league and Celtics officials about the matter before making the offer to Udoka, ESPN reported.

Udoka, 45, played seven seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2011. He served as an assistant coach at San Antonio, Philadelphia and Brooklyn before being hired by the Celtics in June 2021.

The Celtics went 51-31 last season and reached the NBA Finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors in Udoka's rookie head coaching campaign.

Udoka knows Toronto Raptors president Masai Uriji but decided against seeking that job after the firing of Nick Nurse on Friday, ESPN reported, saying the Rockets sold Udoka on a young roster of talent, a huge amount of money to spend under the NBA salary cap and the team's high chance at winning next month's NBA Draft Lottery.

Taking the top pick from the lottery would put the Rockets in position to select French big man Victor Wembanyama, seen as one of the top prospects since LeBron James.

The club will be trying to avoid suffering a fourth straight losing campaign next season, a drought it hasn't suffered since beginning its existence with seven in a row from 1967-74.

Udoka, who is of Nigerian and American descent, was an assistant coach on the 2014 San Antonio Spurs NBA championship club and on the staff of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for the Tokyo Olympic champion US squad.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Jalen Green guides Rockets to OT win over Lakers

Rookie Jalen Green scored 13 consecutive Houston points bridging the fourth quarter and overtime, and the Rockets pulled away for a 139-130 win over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

Green scored a season-high 32 points, including the first seven of the Rockets' 10-0 blitz that opened the extra period. He finished 13 of 21 from the floor but had ample help as seven Rockets scored in double figures.

Fellow rookies Josh Christopher and Alperen Sengun scored 21 points apiece, with Sengun adding 14 rebounds to his season-best point total. Kenyon Martin Jr. (17 points, 11 rebounds) also recorded a double-double for Houston, which was missing two starters and entered on a 2-17 skid.

LeBron James posted his fifth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook added 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but the Lakers allowed the Rockets to shoot 51 percent from the floor, including 17 of 40 (42.5 percent) from 3-point range.

The Lakers hit 46.5 percent of their field-goal attempts and 18 of 47 (38.3 percent) from long distance while losing for the sixth time in seven games.

Green pulled the Rockets even by sinking two free throws with 2:22 left in regulation, then lifted Houston to a 120-118 lead with an 18-foot pullup with 2:02 remaining.

James delivered one of his four blocks, rejecting Sengun in the post before feeding Westbrook for a game-tying jumper at the 1:09 mark. Westbrook and James then combined to thwart Green on a drive to the basket, with James following some physical Westbrook defense with another block.

After the Rockets had what was a seven-point lead shaved to 82-81 on a pair of free throws by Austin Reeves (17 points) at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter, Houston surged back ahead 91-83 when Dennis Schroeder fed Sengun for a dunk.

The Lakers closed the period with a flurry and reclaimed the lead just prior to the buzzer when they turned three offensive rebounds into an extended possession following a missed free throw. D.J. Augustin converted the final offensive board with a 16-foot jumper for a 98-97 lead.

James (knee) was questionable to play after missing the Lakers' loss in San Antonio on Monday.

-reuters-

NBA: Surging Clippers send Rockets to 10th straight loss

Ivica Zubac recorded his 18th double-double on the season while Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson combined for 35 points as the Los Angeles Clippers completed a three-game season series sweep of the Houston Rockets with a 113-100 road victory Tuesday.

Zubac paired 22 points with 12 rebounds to lead the Clippers to their sixth win in seven games -- with the past two of them coming against Houston.

Jackson had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds while Morris chipped in 18 points while shooting 4 of 6 from 3-point range. The Clippers moved two games over .500 for the first time since Dec. 22.

The Rockets absorbed their 10th consecutive loss. Jalen Green scored 20 points, Christian Wood tallied 17 points and eight rebounds and Jae'Sean Tate posted 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Clippers seized control with a 40-point third quarter, a period during which they shot 58.3 percent while converting seven of their nine 3-point attempts. The deciding run, a 16-4 burst midway through the period, featured three Jackson 3-pointers plus two dunks from Zubac, who also added an assist.

The Clippers secured their first double-digit lead at 73-63 with the blitz and pulled away behind Zubac, who produced the defining moment of the period. He contested a shot by Alperen Sengun (13 points, nine rebounds) on the defensive end before beating Sengun down the court and finishing a dunk through a Sengun foul.

Zubac, who had 10 points and seven boards in the third, completed the three-point play as the Clippers extended their lead to 83-70 at the 2:01 mark.

Morris and Jackson scored nine points each in the third quarter to support Zubac. When the Rockets went the opening 3:05 of the fourth without scoring, their deficit swelled to 96-75.

Houston enjoyed promising moments prior to the collapse. Wood posted 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks in a forceful opening quarter, enabling the Rockets to rally from a six-point deficit to take a short-lived lead. Houston found an extended rhythm in the second, erasing a 34-29 deficit with an 18-6 run keyed by 3-pointers from Sengun, Tate, Dennis Schroder and Garrison Mathews.

However, Schroder was slowed by an ankle injury after the Rockets claimed a 47-40 lead, and while he remained in the game, the Clippers closed the half with a 9-3 burst and grabbed the momentum.

-reuters-

NBA: Warriors heat up, deal Rockets their eighth straight loss

Jordan Poole had a game-high 25 points and Stephen Curry 20 as the Golden State Warriors gradually pulled away from the visiting Houston Rockets in the second half for a 120-107 victory Sunday night.

Andrew Wiggins (16 points), Otto Porter Jr. (15) and Gary Payton II (10) also scored in double figures for Golden State, which won its fourth straight to improve its best-in-the-NBA record to 8-1.

Jae'Sean Tate finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who fell for the second time in two days and have lost eight straight games.

After putting up 69 points in the first half, the Warriors led just 83-80 after a Christian Wood dunk with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter.

But Nemanja Bjelica nailed a pair of 3-pointers and Payton chipped in with two hoops during a 15-0 flurry that broke the game open.

Golden State, which hosts the Atlanta Hawks on the second night of a home back-to-back on Monday, was able to empty the bench in the fourth quarter.

In outscoring Curry for the third straight game, Poole shot 7-for-13 and also found time for five assists.

Porter hit five 3-pointers in seven tries to account for all his scoring and Curry added four in 11 attempts, helping Golden State outscore the Rockets 45-30 from beyond the arc.

Porter was Golden State's top rebounder with nine, while Draymond Green accumulated a game-high nine assists to go with eight rebounds and six points.

Tate's double-double was his second of the season. He had three in 70 games as a rookie last year.

Daniel Theis had 14 points, Alperen Sengun 12 and Kevin Porter Jr. and D.J. Augustin 11 apiece for the Rockets, who completed an 0-5 trip.

Jalen Green, a Northern California product making his San Francisco debut as an NBA player, totaled just nine points on 4-for-12 shooting. He missed five of his six 3-point attempts.

The Warriors outshot the Rockets 51.8 percent to 45.6 percent.

-reuters-

NBA: Devin Booker guides Suns past slumping Rockets

Devin Booker recorded 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists to help the Phoenix Suns post a 123-111 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

Landry Shamet scored 19 points off the bench, Deandre Ayton added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges also scored 16 points as the Suns won their third consecutive game.

Phoenix's Chris Paul registered 13 assists for his sixth double-digit effort in seven games. He also had nine points and five steals.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 20 points and Christian Wood added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who lost their sixth straight game.

Houston's Jalen Green scored 16 points despite being shooting just 3 of 14 from the field. Jae'Sean Tate added 14 points, reserve Eric Gordon scored 12 and Alperen Sengun had 10.

The Rockets shot 43.7 percent from the field and were 11 of 31 (35.5 percent) from behind the arc.

Cameron Johnson added 12 points and JaVale McGee had 11 for Phoenix, which shot 47.3 percent from the field and 14 of 31 (45.2 percent) from 3-point range.

Houston led, 61-56, at halftime before Phoenix scored 37 third-quarter points to take a seven-point lead into the final stanza.

A Gordon layup with 3:20 left in the third gave the Rockets an 81-78 lead before the Suns answered with a 15-2 run. Booker's 3-pointer, Shamet's dunk and Elfrid Payton's tip-in gave Phoenix a 93-83 lead with 33.2 seconds left before Houston's D.J. Augustin connected on a 3-pointer for the quarter's final tally.

Shamet buried a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 burst early in the final quarter as the Suns took a 101-88 advantage. Phoenix pushed the lead to 110-95 on Abdel Nader's two free throws with 8:01 remaining.

The Rockets rattled off the next eight points, the last four from Tate, to move within seven. But Booker and Paul each sank two free throws and Bridges added two baskets to make it 118-103 with 2:15 left, and Phoenix closed it out.

The Suns led, 36-30, after the opening quarter but made just 8 of 25 field-goal attempts in the second. Houston took advantage, outscoring Phoenix by 11 in the quarter to hold the five-point lead at the break.

-reuters-

NBA: Jalen Green scores 30 but Celtics beat Rockets

Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and Grant Williams chipped in a career-high-tying 18 off the bench as the Boston Celtics earned their first victory by defeating the Houston Rockets 107-97 Sunday at Toyota Center.

Tatum shot 12-for-24 and grabbed nine rebounds as Boston overcame the absence of Jaylen Brown (knee) with a balanced attack. Williams started 4-for-4 from the floor, including 3-for-3 on 3-pointers while Dennis Schroder and Al Horford scored 18 and 17 points, respectively.

The Celtics assisted on 22 of their 38 field goals and scored 28 points on 20 Houston turnovers.

Boston trailed by as many as nine points in the first quarter before riding a hot start behind the arc from their reserves. Excluding Tatum, the Celtics shot 4 of 14 in the first quarter but by the intermission, Boston reserves made 6 of 13 3-pointers with Williams going 3 of 4.

Rockets guard Jalen Green scored a career-high 30 points and made a franchise rookie record eight threes. He started 5-for-5 from deep and shot 11-for-18 from the floor. Christian Wood added 20 points and nine boards while Kevin Porter Jr. scored 15 points yet committed eight turnovers.

Houston carried a 30-22 lead into the second quarter but Boston opened that frame with a 6-0 spurt before Green responded with a three. But the Celtics had seized the momentum for good and forged their first lead since 10-9 when Horford converted a layup for a 45-43 advantage with 3:07 left in the half.

Boston then opened the second half with a 12-4 burst, including a 10-0 run that featured 3-pointers from Horford and Tatum and a three-point play from Marcus Smart.

The Rockets clawed to within 70-63 on a Wood three before Boston extended to a 20-point lead, with Horford tallying seven points and Schroder six during an extended run that included threes from Williams and Smart. 

When Houston cut that deficit in half by the 7:19 mark of the fourth quarter, Williams drained another three that pushed the margin to 96-83.

Horford added 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks to his stat line.

-reuters-

NBA: Kawhi Leonard pours in 31 as Clippers clobber Rockets

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and dished out eight assists Friday as the Los Angeles Clippers earned their fourth victory in a row, a 126-109 decision over the visiting Houston Rockets.

Reggie Jackson finished with 26 points, Nicolas Batum added 17 and Terance Mann totaled 16 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. Clippers forward Paul George didn't play as the team gave him a rest following consecutive 30-plus-point outings, and Rajon Rondo (adductor soreness) also sat out.

Houston had six players in double figures, led by Christian Wood with 23 points. 

Jae'Sean Tate finished with 18 points, Sterling Brown added 15, Kevin Porter Jr. totaled 14 points and 13 assists, Kenyon Martin Jr. added 14 points and Kelly Olynyk contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rockets, who lost for the sixth time in seven games, rested John Wall ahead of a Saturday game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Wall has a lingering left Achilles injury.

The Clippers trailed by 10 points after the first quarter as the Rockets came out with energy.

However, Los Angeles outscored Houston 41-10 in the second quarter to take a 21-point lead into halftime, and the Clippers never fell behind again.

The 10 points were the fewest the Clippers have given up in a quarter this season and the fewest Houston has scored in a second quarter this year.

The Rockets cut Los Angeles' advantage to five points on D.J. Augustin's 3-pointer with 7:07 left in the game. 

The Clippers responded by scoring the next eight points to push their lead back to double digits, and they held off the Rockets the rest of the way.

The Clippers had to adjust the starting lineup with the team announcing that Patrick Beverley sustained a fractured left hand that required surgery. 

Beverley, who will be out at least three weeks, was hurt chasing down a rebound in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

With Beverley unavailable, Jackson returned to the starting lineup at point guard, and he finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range.

-reuters-

NBA: Lonzo Ball's long-range shooting lifts Pelicans over Rockets

Lonzo Ball made a career-high eight 3-pointers to pace a balanced scoring attack as the New Orleans Pelicans fended off the host Houston Rockets 122-115 on Sunday.

Ball, who missed the previous seven games with a hip injury, paired 27 points with nine assists to lead the Pelicans -- who were without forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Five of his teammates also scored in double figures.

After Houston matched its largest lead of the game at 102-97 following a series of dazzling dunks from rookie Kenyon Martin Jr., the Pelicans responded with a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead.

Down the stretch, multiple hands played a role in keeping the Rockets at bay, with Wes Iwundu and Naji Marshall drilling timely 3-pointers while Willy Hernangomez converted in the paint.

Hernangomez had 15 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Eric Bledsoe scored 19 points, James Johnson 18, and Stephen Adams and Marshall scored 12 apiece for the Pelicans.

Kelly Olynyk led the Rockets with 26 points. Jae'Sean Tate added 19 points and Christian Wood finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Sterling Brown and Kevin Porter Jr. scored 12 apiece for Houston, but Porter, whose buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close the half ignited a third-quarter surge, recorded eight turnovers and missed 10 of 15 shot attempts.

Houston trailed 70-56 before the Porter half-court heave, but turned a late 9-0 run in the third into its first advantage since early in the game. D.J. Wilson and D.J. Augustin hit 3-pointers for a 92-89 lead.

New Orleans used a 22-5 run to build an early lead, with Ball drilling all four of his 3-point attempts in the first quarter during that stretch. The Pelicans turned seven Houston turnovers into 15 points in the quarter, and the Rockets trailed 38-27 entering the second period.

The Pelicans continued to capitalize on Houston miscues and closed the half with 18 points off 11 Rockets turnovers. Olynyk kept the Rockets in contention with 19 points in 18 minutes off the bench in the half.

-reuters-

NBA: Celtics pull away for win over Rockets

Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown added 22 with 11 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the visiting Houston Rockets, 118-102, Friday night.

Robert Williams III scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting in his return from a game missed due to a non-COVID illness as the Celtics snapped a two-game losing streak.

Williams added nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists in his fourth start of the season. New addition Evan Fournier scored 23 points and sank seven 3-pointers. Marcus Smart had 10 of Boston's 35 assists on the night.

Christian Wood amassed 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets, who have lost three straight and 5 of 6 since snapping a 20-game skid.

The Celtics upped an eight-point advantage at halftime to double digits, 59-49, on a Tatum breakaway dunk with 8:39 remaining in the third quarter. The slam kicked off a 16-6 stretch in which Brown scored eight consecutive Boston points. He picked up a technical foul along the way for waving his arm at the referee after a layup.

The Celtics' lead reached 77-59 before the Rockets ripped off an 8-0 run. Boston ended the third up, 82-70.

Tatum and Brown scored 13 points apiece in the period.

Fournier made four consecutive 3-point attempts early in the fourth, the last producing a 100-81 advantage with 8:06 to go. He sank two more threes in the quarter as Boston led by as much as 24 down the stretch.

Brown exited with a left knee contusion with 6:39 remaining and did not return.

The Celtics entered the second quarter up, 33-25, but couldn't shake off the Rockets. Houston used a 9-0 run to take a 38-37 edge and led again 44-43 with 3:37 left before Boston ended the half with a 9-0 spurt for a 52-44 lead at the break.

Tatum topped the Celtics with 13 first-half points. Wood paced the Rockets with 14 before intermission.

-reuters-

NBA: Harden's 37 points carries Rockets past Knicks

James Harden paired 37 points with nine assists, while Ben McLemore and Austin Rivers added valuable double-digit production off the bench as the Houston Rockets cruised to a 123-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday at Toyota Center.

The Rockets have won eight of 10 by outflanking the opposition from the 3-point line, and they extended to a 25-point lead before cooling off when both benches cleared in the fourth period. Houston excelled offensively without guard Russell Westbrook, who was a late scratch (thumb).

Harden, Westbrook and P.J. Tucker all arrived just over an hour prior to tip-off after taking a private jet from Los Angeles following the memorial service for Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

McLemore scored 17 points on 4-for-9 3-point shooting while Rivers chipped in 14 points, including nine in the third quarter. Eric Gordon, inserted into the starting lineup for Westbrook, scored 16 points over 28 minutes before departing in the second half with left knee soreness.

The Rockets have won eight consecutive games against the Knicks, who have followed a season-best four-game winning streak with four consecutive losses. Rookie RJ Barrett paced the Knicks with 21 points while Julius Randle added a double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds).

Dennis Smith Jr. tallied 15 points and a career-high seven steals for the Knicks.

Barrett provided the Knicks a measure of optimism with 14 first-quarter points, and his running layup with 3:20 left in the period capped a 15-2 run and spotted the Knicks a 27-24 advantage.

But McLemore closed the frame with a 3-pointer and added another following a Jeff Green 3 that opened the scoring in the second. 

Houston quickly extended to a 44-33 lead, and when the Knicks clawed to within 53-49 midway through the period, Harden responded with 13 consecutive points as Houston reclaimed control. 

Harden matched his season-high with 31 first-half points, doing so on just 16 shot attempts while converting 4 of 5 3-pointers.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden pours in 42 as Rockets stop Celtics' win streak

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 78 points, and the host Houston Rockets snapped the Boston Celtics' seven-game win streak with a 116-105 victory Tuesday.

Harden produced 42 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while Westbrook chipped in 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Harden scored 31 points in the second half, including 19 in succession for Houston in the third quarter en route to his 19th 40-point game on the season.

With the Rockets clinging to a 96-94 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Harden and Westbrook sparked a 17-4 run. Harden scored six points during that stretch at the free-throw line and teamed with Westbrook to finish 27 of 31 at the charity stripe.

The Celtics went 20 of 25 from the line.

Gordon Hayward led Boston with 20 points and six assists, and he added eight rebounds. Jaylen Brown chipped in 19 points despite battling bothersome ankles. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum combined for 29 points on 10-of-32 shooting. That duo finished 1 of 13 from 3-point range.


Danuel House Jr., who tallied a corner 3-pointer and a layup during the Rockets' late surge, contributed 17 points and nine boards while Robert Covington totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

What was an offensive grind in the first quarter -- Boston scored just 19 points yet entered the second trailing by only four -- perked up down the stretch of the first half.

Houston found a bit of rhythm from behind the arc midway through the period with Harden, Covington and House all draining treys. When Harden sank a technical free throw with 3:47 left, the Rockets led 43-35.

However, Walker spurred the Celtics to a 12-0 run with seven points, and when Tatum closed the half with a dunk, Boston carried a 49-47 lead into the break.

The Celtics went quiet to open the second half, though, going more than four minutes without a field goal as Houston countered with a 10-1 spurt. It wasn't until Brown drilled a 3-pointer at the 7:42 mark that Boston got its offense untracked.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden tallies triple-double, Rockets send Sixers to fourth straight loss

James Harden recorded a 40-point triple-double and Clint Capela won the matchup of talented bigs as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 118-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night in Houston.

Harden posted 44 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and intermittently carried the Rockets when things went awry.

Capela added 30 points and 14 rebounds to outpace 76ers center Joel Embiid (20 points, 12 boards) and help send Philadelphia to its fourth consecutive defeat since a Christmas Day blistering of the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks.

Harden was spectacular throughout, converting 6 of 12 3-pointers while finishing 12-for-12 at the free-throw line.

When the 76ers mounted one last desperate push with just under three minutes remaining, cutting the deficit to 108-102 on a Ben Simmons layup, Harden responded with back-to-back 3s to snuff that rally. It marked the first triple-double on the season for Harden.

Simmons tallied a triple-double for the 76ers with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists and added four blocked shots and three steals. 

Tobias Harris added 24 points but Philadelphia shot just 6 of 27 from behind the arc and suffered multiple breakdowns attempting to defend Harden.

The 76ers were stout defensively in the first quarter, particularly in the early stages when Harden and Russell Westbrook started a combined 2-for-11 from the floor.

Philadelphia sagged off Westbrook and enticed him to shoot while thwarting Harden with an array of long-limbed defenders. Houston shot 30.8 percent in the opening frame and trailed 27-20 entering the second.

That's when Harden, and in a complementary fashion Capela, came alive.

Capela followed his three-point play at the 8:01 mark with a pair of dunks before Harden added a 3 and then three free throws. That tandem continued to thrive, with Harden closing the half with a 3 and a layup lifting Houston to a 60-53 lead at the break.

Harden and Capela tallied 23 points in the period.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden, Westbrook lead Rockets past Nets

James Harden delivered 44 points and 10 rebounds and the host Houston Rockets survived unsightly 3-point shooting in their 108-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

The win allowed Houston to bounce back from an ugly loss at Golden State on Christmas.

Harden's floater with 6:51 left to play put Houston ahead to stay at 93-92, and his step-back 3-pointer with 42.9 seconds left stretched the lead to 107-98 and erased all doubt.

Russell Westbrook added 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists prior to his ejection inside the final minute. Austin Rivers tallied 14 points off the bench on 4-for-9 shooting on 3-pointers. But Houston shot just 13 of 42 from deep, perimeter struggles that enabled Brooklyn to remain close.

Spencer Dinwiddie paced five Nets in double figures with 17 points while adding a game-high 11 assists. Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen scored 16 apiece for the Nets, who shot 40.2 percent.

With all five starters watching from the bench, the Nets fashioned a spirited 14-0 run that bridged the final two periods.

Theo Pinson, who did not play in the first half, was the linchpin, scoring 11 points during a stretch that saw Brooklyn flip an 88-72 deficit into a 92-91 lead. The Rockets went nearly seven minutes without a field goal during that miserable offensive stretch.

But when they needed offense down the stretch, Harden was able to provide.

Harden and Westbrook combined for the opening 37 points for the Rockets, with Westbrook starting 5 of 6 from the floor before Harden tallied 17 consecutive points.

Houston stretched a two-point advantage to a 35-18 lead when Harden capped his individual run with a free throw at the 2:36 mark of the first quarter. It wasn't until Isaiah Hartenstein converted a layup with 1:34 left in the opening period that someone other than Harden or Westbrook scored for the Rockets.

Brooklyn was quick in erasing most of the Rockets' 22-point lead entering the second, taking full advantage once Harden sat.

Westbrook closed the first half 4 for 14 following his scorching start, and the Nets feasted on the Rockets' porous defense, shooting 13 of 27 in the second while posting 18 points in the paint. After producing 23 points in the first quarter, Harden did not score again until his finger roll with 1:12 remaining in the first half extended the lead to 61-52.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden scores 47 as Rockets soar past Suns

James Harden drained nine 3-pointers while recording 47 points, six rebounds and seven assists to lead the Houston Rockets to a 139-125 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 10 assists as Houston defeated Phoenix for the 13th consecutive time. Clint Capela registered 14 points and 17 rebounds and Danuel House Jr. added 11 points for the Rockets.


Houston shot a blistering 58.6 percent from the field, including 19 of 41 from 3-point range. Harden hit 15 of 27 shots and was 9 of 19 from behind the arc.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 26 points for the Suns, who lost their sixth straight game and 14th in their past 18. Devin Booker added 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds, Elie Okobo tallied 17 points and Ty Jerome added 15 points.

Center Deandre Ayton (ankle) and point guard Ricky Rubio (illness) sat out for the Suns.

Harden had an opportunity for his 24th career 50-point outing but was pulled with 1:39 remaining.

Phoenix shot 51.6 percent from the field and was 8 of 28 from behind the arc. Aron Baynes scored 13 points while Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky added 10 points apiece for the Suns, who had seven double-digit scorers.

Houston led by five at halftime and opened the lead to 87-75 on Westbrook's basket with 6:58 left in the third quarter.

Gary Clark buried a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left as the Rockets carried a 106-95 advantage into the final quarter.

The Suns trailed, 115-107, after Booker's three-point play with 9:37 left but Westbrook drained a jumper and House and Harden buried 3-pointers to push the margin to 16 with seven minutes remaining.

Harden drained a 3-pointer and converted a four-point play for Houston's next seven points to boost the advantage to 130-112 with 5:28 left.

Another Harden 3-pointer pushed the lead to 20 at 136-116 with 3:58 remaining and Houston cruised to the finish.

Harden scored 29 first-half points on 10-of-15 shooting as the Rockets held a 70-65 lead into the break.

He scored 18 on 6-of-7 shooting in the opening quarter but Houston led by just 36-35. The Rockets built a 14-point advantage during the second stanza before Phoenix trimmed it to 60-59 on a basket by Baynes with 2:37 remaining.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden scores 54 as Rockets breeze past Magic, 130-107

James Harden delivered another exceptional scoring performance and the Houston Rockets swept a brief two-game swing against Eastern Conference opponents, cruising past the Orlando Magic 130-107 on Friday in Orlando.

Two nights after pairing 55 points with eight assists in Cleveland against the Cavaliers, Harden posted 54 points and seven assists to subdue the Magic, who've dropped three straight games.

Harden drilled a franchise record 10 3-pointers to lead Houston past the Cavaliers. He finished 10-for-15 from behind the arc against Orlando en route to his fifth 50-point game of the season.

Spectacular throughout, Harden produced one sequence that served as a microcosm of his night.

With the third quarter winding down, Harden blocked a shot attempt by Magic guard Michael Carter-Williams, snagged the rebound and darted up court before hitting a floater that beat the buzzer and extended the Houston lead to 96-78 entering the fourth quarter.

Harden had 38 points entering the final period, in which he posted 16 points to lead the charge.

Russell Westbrook chipped in 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Ben McLemore shot 6 of 7 on 3s for 18 points off the bench. P.J. Tucker (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Clint Capela (10 points, 11 rebounds) posted double-doubles for Houston, which hit 22 of 39 3s.

Orlando's Evan Fournier scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half, including 14 in the second quarter off four 3s. Aaron Gordon had 21 points and six rebounds while Terrence Ross added 13 points.

Harden and Fournier engaged in an entertaining scoring duel in the second quarter, with Harden scoring 18 points in that period to provide Houston a working margin entering the intermission.

Both teams shot exceptionally from deep prior to the break, with the Rockets connecting on 11 of 19 3s while Orlando went 9 of 21 from long range. But with Jonathan Isaac saddled with three fouls by the 7:04 mark of the second period, the defensive-minded Magic were left prone.

Harden punished Orlando repeatedly both inside and out, and after opting not to double team Harden in the first half, the Magic sheepishly attempted to do so to no avail in the second half.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA fines Clippers' Beverley $5K for flop offense

Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley was fined $5,000 by the NBA on Saturday for violating the league's anti-flopping rule for the second time this season.

The most recent incident by Beverley, a veteran in his eighth season, happened in the first quarter of Friday night's 122-119 home win against the Houston Rockets. He apparently overreacted while trying to draw a foul on Houston star James Harden.

On Thursday, Beverley received a warning from the league for flopping in Wednesday's win against the Boston Celtics. Beverley, who was held to six points on 2-for-6 shooting on Friday, is averaging 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds over 14 games (all starts) this season.

In the Clippers' season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in October, Beverley was hit with a $25,000 fine for throwing a ball into the crowd at the end of the game, even though his underhand toss apparently was to celebrate the win after he high-fived teammate Montrezl Harrell.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden, Westbrook combine for 64 in Rockets' rout

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined 64 points as the Houston Rockets won the battle of the backcourts with their 132-108 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at Toyota Center.

While Harden did the heavy lifting prior to the halftime intermission, scoring 23 of his 36 points on 6-of-12 shooting, Westbrook came alive in the second half with 15 of his 28 points, adding 13 rebounds and 10 assists overall as Houston extended its winning streak to eight consecutive games.

The Rockets were bolstered by the return of center Clint Capela and forward Danuel House Jr. Capela, sidelined two games after suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, dominated the paint with 22 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks. House, out three games with a sore back, went 3-for-6 from 3-point range and scored 11 points.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Trail Blazers' high-scoring guard tandem, totaled 38 points on 14-of-34 shooting, with Lillard missing 11 of his 15 shots while shooting 1 of 6 on 3-pointers. Lillard did add 11 assists but Portland failed to keep pace when the Rockets seized control down the stretch of the first half.

The Trail Blazers have dropped seven of their last nine games.

It was Harden who provided the Rockets an advantage they would not relinquish, sandwiching two 3s around a driving layup to help Houston build a 54-44 lead with 4:06 left in the half. Harden added his second four-point play of the half with 73 seconds remaining as the Rockets carried a 64-50 lead into the break.

Westbrook attacked the rim with fervor in the third quarter to keep the Rockets rolling along, scoring nine points in the period as Houston methodically pulled away.

P.J. Tucker chipped in 13 points for the Rockets, who made 17 of 45 3s and posted a plus-14 rebounding margin (58-44) over Portland. Three reserves scored in double figures for the Trail Blazers, with Skal Labissiere pairing 15 points with six rebounds while Kent Bazemore added 11 points and five assists and Anfernee Simons scored 10. Starters Nassir Little and Hassan Whiteside scored 11 apiece for Portland.

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Harden scores 49, carrying battered Rockets by Wolves

James Harden recorded his fifth 40-plus point scoring effort during the Houston Rockets' seven-game winning streak, posting 49 in a 125-105 victory over the host Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

Hamstrung by a roster depleted by injuries, Harden took a career-high 41 shot attempts. He finished 8 of 22 on 3-pointers and added five rebounds and six assists over 39 minutes.

A trio of guards provided Harden support offensively. Ben McLemore followed his 21-point performance Friday against Indiana with 20 points, including a pair of free throws with 1:29 left in the third quarter that gave the Rockets their first double-digit lead at 89-79.

Austin Rivers and Chris Clemons scored 19 points apiece for the Rockets, who also received a career-best 16 rebounds from center Isaiah Hartenstein. Houston shot 19 of 49 on 3-pointers.

The Timberwolves led by as many as 11 points in the first half but struggled to contain Harden. They also missed the production of their second-leading scorer, forward Andrew Wiggins, who missed his second consecutive game (personal reasons).

Karl-Anthony Towns paired 27 points with 15 rebounds to pace the Timberwolves, while Jake Layman scored 21 on 9-of-14 shooting. Robert Covington chipped in 17 points, while rookie Jarrett Culver added 13 points, all in the first half.

With the Rockets missing their second- (Russell Westbrook), third- (Clint Capela), fourth- (Danuel House Jr.) and fifth-leading scorers (Eric Gordon), Harden asserted himself offensively from the opening tip, hoisting 17 first-quarter shots to keep Houston afloat. Harden started the game 1 for 6 from the floor but went 6 of 11 down the stretch and tallied 18 points in the period, as the Rockets shot 6 of 12 from behind the arc and eked out a 31-30 advantage.

Clemons teamed with Harden to score all 13 points in a 13-3 Houston run that erased most of the Timberwolves' 21-10 lead. Clemons, an undrafted rookie out of Campbell, matched his career high of 16 points by the intermission. 

With Harden producing 30 points by the break, that duo was able to offset Towns' 18 points and the combined 24 points from Culver and Layman to lead 64-62.

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NBA: Harden scores 44 as Rockets down Pacers

James Harden scored 40-plus points for the fourth time in six games and the host Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to six games with a 111-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers Friday at Toyota Center.

Harden paired 44 points with 8 rebounds to carry the short-handed Rockets to victory. 

With Houston trailing 88-86 midway through the fourth quarter, Harden scored 12 consecutive points to lift the Rockets to a double-digit lead. Harden also tallied five assists and four steals.

Houston played without Clint Capela (concussion), Eric Gordon (right knee surgery) and Danuel House Jr. (sore back).

When the Pacers began to aggressively trap Harden in the third quarter, Ben McLemore rendered aid, posting 10 of his season-high 21 points in the period. 

Austin Rivers added 10 points off the Houston bench. Russell Westbrook had 17 points, eight boards and six assists despite shooting just 5 of 21 from the floor.

Domantas Sabonis (18 points, 13 rebounds) paced an equally short-handed Pacers squad. 

Indiana, without Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb, leaned on bench production with four reserves scoring in double figures: Doug McDermott (18 points), T.J. McConnell and T.J. Leaf (12 apiece), and Justin Holiday (10).

But the Pacers shot just 8 for 33 on 3-pointers while Houston finished 14 of 46 from deep. Harden and McLemore finished a combined 10-for-25 on 3s.

Indiana had its four-game winning streak snapped.

What was an impactful start for Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon ended abruptly after he departed with a sore lower back after posting two points and four assists in nine minutes. 

The Pacers utilized their ample depth and found production elsewhere, starting with Sabonis and continuing with McDermott (both scored 11 points prior to the halftime intermission) while extending to a 47-38 lead on a pair of TJ Warren free throws with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Rockets reeled off a 16-0 blitz, keyed by eight points from Harden.

Westbrook and Rivers combined for six free throws during that run, one that enabled the Rockets to carry a 54-49 lead into the break. 

Harden tallied 20 points in the opening half.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden scores 47 to help Rockets defeat Clippers

James Harden poured in a game-high 47 points and served as the closer down the stretch of the Houston Rockets' 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday at Toyota Center.

After Kawhi Leonard provided the Clippers an 86-85 lead with a fading jumper in the paint, Harden converted a driving layup and then drilled a 3-pointer as Houston reclaimed a 90-86 advantage. With just over 90 seconds to play, Harden nailed a dagger 3 for a 95-88 lead.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was ejected immediately thereafter. Houston extended its winning streak to five games. Harden shot 7 of 13 on 3s, grabbed six boards and had seven assists.

Russell Westbrook added 17 points for the Rockets while center Clint Capela posted his third consecutive 20-rebound game, pairing 12 points with 20 boards before departing after a collision with Clippers forward JaMychal Green late in the fourth quarter.

Leonard, who gave the Clippers their first lead at 84-80 with a four-point play at the 6:52 mark of the fourth, paced the Clippers with 26 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. 

Lou Williams chipped in 20 points off the bench and Green delivered a double-double (14 points, 14 boards).

The Rockets' fast start, bolstered by 14 paint points in their 31-point first period, fizzled quickly in the second. 

With Westbrook benched after accumulating four fouls in the first quarter, the Clippers focused their defense exclusively on Harden. That meant Leonard had the assignment.

Houston extended to a 36-19 lead on a Tucker 3 early in the second period, added a Capela alley-oop roughly two minutes later and then went five minutes without a point. 

Leonard and Williams pulled the Clippers to within 38-33 before the Rockets found some juice, with Tucker and Harden burying three 3s before Harden added a floater with 16 seconds remaining.

The Rockets led 49-37 at the intermission, their points surrendered the fewest in any half this season. But when the Clippers started running their offense through center Ivica Zubac to start the second half, the Rockets again hit a slump and opened the door for the Clippers to rally.

source: news.abs-cbn.com