Rockets Defeat Hornets
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Aaron Brooks (27 points) and Shane Battier (20 points) combined for 47 points to counter a career-high 44 point performance from David West of the New Orleans Hornets; and, the Houston Rockets defeated the Hornets 108-100 in front of an announced sellout crowd of 18,187 fans.
Defense was not at a premium in the first quarter for either club as both team's offense were flowing freely. The Rockets (19-13) shot 63.2% (12 for 19) from the field in the opening quarter while the Hornets shot 50.0% (11 for 22). The Rockets led the Hornets 31-23 at end of the quarter.
The offenses continued rolling in the second quarter as the Rockets made 11 of 20 shots (55.0%) compared to the Hornets 12 for 27 (57.1%) shooting in the second quarter.
The Hornets (13-16) bench players outscored the Rockets' reserves 21 to 11 in the second period; however, the Rockets still outscored the Hornets 30 to 28 in the period and led 61-51 at halftime.
Then, the third quarter started and the Rockets offense entered the deep freeze for the fourth straight ball game. The Rockets shot an ice cold 4 for 20 (20.0%) in the third period. Including tonight's game, the Rockets have shot a combined 18 for 76 (23.7%) from the field in the third quarter of the last four games.
"Third quarter. We talked about it at halftime," said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. "The last few games we have not come out in the third quarter and played. We've had poor third quarters. We talked about it at halftime (tonight) and we still did it. I don't know what it is. We'll have to look at it. Our guys will have to come out with more energy."
David West went bonkers in the third quarter; and, the Rockets had no answer for West whatsoever. West shot 7 for 10 from the field - including 2 for 3 on wide open three-point shots - and 6 for 8 from the foul line. West scored 22 points in the third period.
The Rockets were outscored 31-13 in the third period and trailed the Hornets 82-74 entering the fourth period.
West did not start the fourth quarter; and, the Rockets took advantage of West's absence.
The Rockets outscored the Hornets 23 to 4 in the first 6:51 of the fourth to erase the eight point deficit and lead 87-86 at the 5:09 mark of the quarter.
Kyle Lowry assisted on a three-point basket by Shane Battier; then, Lowry made a driving lay-up. Aaron Brooks drained a 21-foot shot followed by two free throws by Lowry.
"Kyle came in and got us going," Adelman added. "We turned the game around the start of that fourth quarter."
Aaron Brooks said, "We just started moving the ball a lot more. We came out and played our game. We didn't hesitate. When the shot was open, we took it; and, we got back to doing what we were doing in the first and second quarter."
David West keyed a 7-0 Hornets' run to trim the Rockets lead to 97-93; however, Landry converted a three-point play before West banked in a six-foot runner and Devin Brown swished a wide open three to cut the Rockets' lead to 100-98 with 1:11.
Despite struggling from the perimeter once again, Trevor Ariza made a key play by pump faking an outside shot and driving to the hole and finishing with a two-hand slam dunk to give the Rockets a four point lead with 49.6 seconds remaining in the game.
"When you are struggling like he has the last couple of games," said Shane Battier." You find ways to get it done. He was upset after the game; but, we told him that was a huge play to get that dunk and really get the crowd into the game and it really sealed it for us."
After a Hornets' timeout, Darius Songaila (yes, Darius Songaila, not David West nor Chris Paul) missed a 21-foot jump shot; Lowry rebounded the miss and the Hornets did not get any closer as the Rockets closed out the game with the eight point victory.
Defense was not at a premium in the first quarter for either club as both team's offense were flowing freely. The Rockets (19-13) shot 63.2% (12 for 19) from the field in the opening quarter while the Hornets shot 50.0% (11 for 22). The Rockets led the Hornets 31-23 at end of the quarter.
The offenses continued rolling in the second quarter as the Rockets made 11 of 20 shots (55.0%) compared to the Hornets 12 for 27 (57.1%) shooting in the second quarter.
The Hornets (13-16) bench players outscored the Rockets' reserves 21 to 11 in the second period; however, the Rockets still outscored the Hornets 30 to 28 in the period and led 61-51 at halftime.
Then, the third quarter started and the Rockets offense entered the deep freeze for the fourth straight ball game. The Rockets shot an ice cold 4 for 20 (20.0%) in the third period. Including tonight's game, the Rockets have shot a combined 18 for 76 (23.7%) from the field in the third quarter of the last four games.
"Third quarter. We talked about it at halftime," said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. "The last few games we have not come out in the third quarter and played. We've had poor third quarters. We talked about it at halftime (tonight) and we still did it. I don't know what it is. We'll have to look at it. Our guys will have to come out with more energy."
David West went bonkers in the third quarter; and, the Rockets had no answer for West whatsoever. West shot 7 for 10 from the field - including 2 for 3 on wide open three-point shots - and 6 for 8 from the foul line. West scored 22 points in the third period.
The Rockets were outscored 31-13 in the third period and trailed the Hornets 82-74 entering the fourth period.
West did not start the fourth quarter; and, the Rockets took advantage of West's absence.
The Rockets outscored the Hornets 23 to 4 in the first 6:51 of the fourth to erase the eight point deficit and lead 87-86 at the 5:09 mark of the quarter.
Kyle Lowry assisted on a three-point basket by Shane Battier; then, Lowry made a driving lay-up. Aaron Brooks drained a 21-foot shot followed by two free throws by Lowry.
"Kyle came in and got us going," Adelman added. "We turned the game around the start of that fourth quarter."
Aaron Brooks said, "We just started moving the ball a lot more. We came out and played our game. We didn't hesitate. When the shot was open, we took it; and, we got back to doing what we were doing in the first and second quarter."
David West keyed a 7-0 Hornets' run to trim the Rockets lead to 97-93; however, Landry converted a three-point play before West banked in a six-foot runner and Devin Brown swished a wide open three to cut the Rockets' lead to 100-98 with 1:11.
Despite struggling from the perimeter once again, Trevor Ariza made a key play by pump faking an outside shot and driving to the hole and finishing with a two-hand slam dunk to give the Rockets a four point lead with 49.6 seconds remaining in the game.
"When you are struggling like he has the last couple of games," said Shane Battier." You find ways to get it done. He was upset after the game; but, we told him that was a huge play to get that dunk and really get the crowd into the game and it really sealed it for us."
After a Hornets' timeout, Darius Songaila (yes, Darius Songaila, not David West nor Chris Paul) missed a 21-foot jump shot; Lowry rebounded the miss and the Hornets did not get any closer as the Rockets closed out the game with the eight point victory.
posted by Kris G @ 11:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home