Eric Gordon's 31 points and Harden's triple-double leads Rockets over the Wizards

Posted: January 2, 2017 -- 10:31 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets struggled to make shots in the first half and trailed the Washington Wizards 53-41 at halftime; however, Eric Gordon got hot in the third quarter and helped the Rockets outscore the Wizards 37-17 in the quarter. The Rockets held on in the fourth quarter and defeated the Wizards 101-91 in front of a raucous 16,569 fans.

Gordon added 10 points in the fourth quarter for a total of 22 points in the second half.

The Rockets limited the Wizards to 38 points in the second half.

"You know I just told them it's easier to win when everyone's playing; and, we're shooting lights out and all that," Mike D'Antoni said after the game. "We got that part; but, to grind it out - we haven't had too many - but, to be down what we were (as much as 15 points); and, we came out the third quarter, I think, with nine straight stops, or something, and you know the second half, they only scored 38 points. So, it was just a lot of good effort.

"We didn't have our mojo but found a way and that's really important for a team."

The Rockets are 5-8 this season in which they have trailed by double-digits this season after going 13-32 in 2015-'16 season. Tonight's win is just the second time the Rockets have won when trailing at halftime (2-8 record). The other win came on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Eric Gordon scored a season-high 31 points tonight while the entire Wizards' bench combined for 13 points.

Nene scored 9 points off the bench and was key to the Rockets' third quarter surge with 6 points.

James Harden finished the game with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for his third straight triple-double. Harden is the first Rockets' player to post three consecutive triple-doubles in the history of the franchise. Harden already has nine triple-doubles this season after having nine prior for his NBA career - all coming as a Rocket. The Rockets are 16-2 when he records a triple-double.

Montrezl Harrell scored 14 points and pulled down 9 boards tonight. Over the past seven games, Harrell is averaging 15.7 points per game on 67.2% field goal shooting.

The Rockets improve to 27-9 this season and host the Oklahoma City Thunder this Thursday, January 5, at 7 p.m.

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