Brooks, Ariza Lead Rockets over Cavs
HOUSTON, TX -- The Houston Rockets earned a solid 95 - 85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night before an announced crowd of 18,200 fans.
Aaron Brooks scored a team-high 27 points and dished out a team-high six assists while Trevore Ariza added 26 points (11 for 19 from the field including 4 for 6 on three-point shots); five rebounds; two assists; and two steals.
Brooks' quickness was too much for the Cavs -- especially when Brooks was involved in pick-and-roll situations.
"That's where their weak point is, obviously," said Brooks in the locker room after the game. "We got chances to get open shots; and, I just wanted to exploit that a little bit."
Brooks shot 7 for 17 from the field and 12 for 13 from the free throw line.
Shane Battier began the game swishing two three-point shots; and, the Rockets raced to an 8-0 lead resulting in a Cavs' timeout.
The Cavs answered with a 13 to 2 run to lead by three points (13 to 10); but, Brooks answered the run with a driving layup followed by a slam dunk by Ariza which gave the Rockets a lead (14 to 13) they would not relinquish the rest of the ball game.
Ariza hit two three-point shots during the Rockets' 19 to 1 blitz to give the Rockets a 29 to 14 lead at the 1:47 mark of the first period. Ariza closed out the scoring for the Rockets with a 21-foot jumper to put Houston ahead 33 to 19 at the end of the quarter.
"Lately, I've been struggling with my shooting," said Ariza. "But tonight was a good night for me. I hit a lot of good shots, open shots. We played well tonight."
The Rockets' offense went cold in the second quarter; however, despite a 16 to 9 edge in rebounding in the quarter, the Cavs were only able to outscore the Rockets 20 to 19 in the period.
Battier (11 points), Brooks (12 points), and Ariza (15 points) combined for 38 of the Rockets 52 first half points. Cleveland's LeBron James scored only seven points in the first 24 minutes.
Houston (12-9) led by as much as 17 points (60 - 43) in the third quarter; however, the Cavs closed the quarter with 15 to 8 run to trim the Rockets' lead to 10 points (68 - 58) after three quarters.
Cleveland (15-7) got as close as five points (71 - 66) in the fourth quarter; but, Ariza, Brooks, and Carl Landry each scored 7 points to help the Rockets keep the Cavs' at arms' length the final nine plus minutes.
"It was a terrific win against a terrific team," said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. "The guys came out ready to play. They made that run in the fourth quarter; and, we responded. It was a win against a good team that we've struggled with at home. It was good to get this one."
LeBron James finished the game with 27 points; six rebounds; and seven assists. James made eight of his 21 shots from the field; and, he struggled to get into a good rhythm for much of the ball game. James also committed five of the Cavs' 20 turnovers.
"Turnovers. You have to take pride in avoiding them; and, we didn't," James said. "We just can't have unforced turnovers. We got the game as close as five but couldn't get over the hump. We needed to play with a sense of urgency earlier than we did."
The Rockets have won 4 of 5; and, after this one game pit stop at home, return to the road for a Friday game at Philadelphia versus the 76ers and a Sunday afternoon match up versus the Toronto Raptors.
Aaron Brooks scored a team-high 27 points and dished out a team-high six assists while Trevore Ariza added 26 points (11 for 19 from the field including 4 for 6 on three-point shots); five rebounds; two assists; and two steals.
Brooks' quickness was too much for the Cavs -- especially when Brooks was involved in pick-and-roll situations.
"That's where their weak point is, obviously," said Brooks in the locker room after the game. "We got chances to get open shots; and, I just wanted to exploit that a little bit."
Brooks shot 7 for 17 from the field and 12 for 13 from the free throw line.
Shane Battier began the game swishing two three-point shots; and, the Rockets raced to an 8-0 lead resulting in a Cavs' timeout.
The Cavs answered with a 13 to 2 run to lead by three points (13 to 10); but, Brooks answered the run with a driving layup followed by a slam dunk by Ariza which gave the Rockets a lead (14 to 13) they would not relinquish the rest of the ball game.
Ariza hit two three-point shots during the Rockets' 19 to 1 blitz to give the Rockets a 29 to 14 lead at the 1:47 mark of the first period. Ariza closed out the scoring for the Rockets with a 21-foot jumper to put Houston ahead 33 to 19 at the end of the quarter.
"Lately, I've been struggling with my shooting," said Ariza. "But tonight was a good night for me. I hit a lot of good shots, open shots. We played well tonight."
The Rockets' offense went cold in the second quarter; however, despite a 16 to 9 edge in rebounding in the quarter, the Cavs were only able to outscore the Rockets 20 to 19 in the period.
Battier (11 points), Brooks (12 points), and Ariza (15 points) combined for 38 of the Rockets 52 first half points. Cleveland's LeBron James scored only seven points in the first 24 minutes.
Houston (12-9) led by as much as 17 points (60 - 43) in the third quarter; however, the Cavs closed the quarter with 15 to 8 run to trim the Rockets' lead to 10 points (68 - 58) after three quarters.
Cleveland (15-7) got as close as five points (71 - 66) in the fourth quarter; but, Ariza, Brooks, and Carl Landry each scored 7 points to help the Rockets keep the Cavs' at arms' length the final nine plus minutes.
"It was a terrific win against a terrific team," said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. "The guys came out ready to play. They made that run in the fourth quarter; and, we responded. It was a win against a good team that we've struggled with at home. It was good to get this one."
LeBron James finished the game with 27 points; six rebounds; and seven assists. James made eight of his 21 shots from the field; and, he struggled to get into a good rhythm for much of the ball game. James also committed five of the Cavs' 20 turnovers.
"Turnovers. You have to take pride in avoiding them; and, we didn't," James said. "We just can't have unforced turnovers. We got the game as close as five but couldn't get over the hump. We needed to play with a sense of urgency earlier than we did."
The Rockets have won 4 of 5; and, after this one game pit stop at home, return to the road for a Friday game at Philadelphia versus the 76ers and a Sunday afternoon match up versus the Toronto Raptors.
posted by Kris G @ 11:17 PM
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