The Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 98-107 last night in a fateful night from the triple for the team led by Kevin McHale. The Texans finished the night with a 6/26, which was a 23,1% success rate.
The Rockets, who were outplayed during the first three quarters, relied on Harden, who scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to surpass his rival.
"I was buying time," Harden said. «I had problems during the first three quarters and I couldn't find the rhythm when my teammates needed me most. We managed to move the ball and Jeremy Lin hit a couple of good threes. Chandler (Parsons) had a good position at the back and then Dwight had one on one. “Everyone brought a good intensity,” he explained.
Dwight Howard accumulated 24 points and 18 rebounds, although he had 8 turnovers. For his part, his partner in the paint Terrence Jones added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks and Chandler Parsons 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
It was the second consecutive game for the Rockets in which they came behind in the fourth quarter and James Harden would lead his team to victory. In addition, it stands out that since December 2009 the Rockets had not won three consecutive games against rivals from their Division.
“We didn't shoot well,” Coach McHale noted. «For a moment I looked up and I think we were 2 of 19 from three-point range. I felt like they hit all the threes. We have found a way to win, but it has been a long line of play where we have lost our teeth," he added.
Howard had a good night shooting, finishing the game with 10/12 from the field and 4/6 from the line.
“I just tried to play out of the double team,” Howard said. "When they doubled me, I tried to play a good game for everyone, and when they didn't double me in defense, I tried to play the best game for myself," he explained.
For the Pelicans, who were without Eric Gordon for the second consecutive game, the standouts were Ryan Anderson with 22 points and 12 rebounds and Anthony Davis with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Despite their great work in the paint, both could not cope with the lack of scoring from their exteriors.
From the bench Tyreke Evans added 16 points and 9 assists, although with a 7/21 shooting.
"I think we didn't execute it well in the end," Evans said. «It was a tough defeat. I think we played hard and we fought, but in the fourth quarter our execution was not good. "They were shooting from afar and it's a little difficult, but we couldn't do anything," he added.
Harden and Lin sealed the comeback with 3 minutes left when, taking advantage of their rival's mistakes, two triples put their team ahead 97-94. It turns out that, on the night that Houston did not have that lethal success from beyond seven meters, two triples would ensure the victory for the Rockets.