Rockets, Grizzlies off to perfect 4-0 starts early in NBA season

The Houston Rockets routed the rebuilding Philadelphia 76ers 104-93 on Monday to improve to 4-0 in the fledgling NBA season, with their toughest test to date looming Tuesday at Miami.

James Harden made just seven field goals but hit 17 of 18 free throws to finish with 35 points for the Rockets, adding nine rebounds and five assists for a Houston team off to its first 4-0 start since they won six straight to launch the 1996-97 campaign.

Trevor Ariza added 24 points and Dwight Howard chipped in 11 points with 14 rebounds and four blocks for the Rockets, who made seven three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 32-19 lead after one period and used another barrage of long-range shots — including two from Isaiah Canaan — to put the game away in the fourth.

The victory over the winless 76ers, who fell to 0-4, was no surprise.

The Rockets will face a tougher test on Tuesday when they visit the Heat, who are off to a 3-0 start despite the departure of superstar LeBron James for Cleveland after four seasons in Miami.

On Thursday the Rockets face another searching examination when they host the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

They won’t be able to get away with the kind of mistakes they made against Philadelphia, notably 22 turnovers.

“Give our guys credit, in what was a ragtag game for us they found a way to get a win,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.

They’ll have to do better in Miami, where Chris Bosh, often overshadowed by James and Dwyane Wade in his first four seasons with the Heat, has emerged as a leader.

Bosh earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the first week of the season with an average of 25.7 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per contest while handing out four assists per game.

“It’s just time,” Bosh told reporters of his emergence after finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds against Toronto on Sunday.

“I knew I couldn’t settle into that same position I’ve been in the past four years, floating outside and shooting a couple jumpers.”

Against the Rockets on Tuesday the Heat will be trying to maintain their status as the only unbeaten team left in the Eastern Conference.

Grizzlies improve to 4-0

The Memphis Grizzlies also improved to 4-0 on Monday with a 93-81 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Spanish big man Marc Gasol led all five Grizzlies starters in double figures with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Gasol and Zach Randolph both contributed double-doubles, Randolph delivering 15 points and 11 rebounds while the two combined to provide a formidable interior defense.

Gasol and Randolph limited the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis to 14 points and eight rebounds, lackluster numbers compared to the 28.5 points and 16 rebounds Davis was averaging through two games coming into the contest.

The Grizzlies are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.

source: interaksyon.com

James Harden scores 38 as slow-starting Rockets down Lakers

Rockets 113, Lakers 99: James Harden poured in 38 points and added five steals as host Houston rallied from a slow start to send Los Angeles to its ninth loss in 10 games.

Dwight Howard tallied 20 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for the Rockets, who were without forward Chandler Parsons (knee) and reserve center Greg Smith. Terrence Jones added 15 points and 13 boards and Jeremy Lin scored 13 for Houston, which has won five of its last seven overall and seven of nine at home.

Nick Young scored 25 points off the bench despite a sore back to lead the Lakers, who committed 18 turnovers leading to 26 Houston points. Pau Gasol recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double and Jodie Meeks also scored 21 for Los Angeles.

After a strong first half, the Lakers hit a wall coming out of the break, going 6-of-18 from the field in the third quarter as Harden alone outscored them 17-15. Harden scored seven points during a 14-1 run as Houston opened a 16-point lead and never let the margin dip into single digits even when Los Angeles resorted to intentionally fouling Howard to try to close the gap in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles led by as many as 11 in the first half as Gasol and Young each scored 15 points before the break. Houston finished the half with a flurry, though, as Harden and Aaron Brooks each hit 3-pointers in the final 1:38 to help trim the deficit to 57-52 at the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Harden is the first Houston player with three straight 35-point games since Tracy McGrady in 2006. … Lakers PG Kendall Marshall struggled to five points on 2-of-13 shooting but dished out eight assists, giving him 46 in his first four career starts. … Houston finished 28-of-50 at the foul line with Howard going 10-for-24.

source: interaksyon.com