Rockets' bench key in win over Portland

Posted: December 11, 2018 -- 11:15 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets picked up a much-needed victory Tuesday night. The Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-104 to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Rockets' bench brigade was huge in the win. Houston's reserves outscored Blazers' reserves 37-13. Gerald Green led the group with 13 points; Danuel House Jr. scored 12; Nenê scored 10; and before he left the game with strained right hamstring, James Ennis III chipped in two points.

Tonight's stellar bench performance is the first time this season the Rockets had three reserves score in double-digits in the same game (twice in 2017-18). Houston's bench has outscored the opposition's reserves in three of the past six games after doing so three times over the first 20 games of the season.

The four of them combined to make 15 of 22 field goal attempts (4 for 8 threes) in the game and post a sensational plus / minus of +72.

"They won the game for us," Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni said after the game. "They turned it around when we were down 15, and they came in, and Nenê, Danuel House, Gerald (Green) put a lot of energy. Their defense was excellent. Obviously, we would like to have it every game, but we'll take as much as we can, and they can do that, they're good enough to be able to do that."

After the game, Green spoke Michelle Margaux of AT&T SportsNet Southwest and said: "I tried to slow down my game a little bit. Focus on defense and rebounding. My teammates did a good job of finding me; so, I knocked down shots."

"It's a fun thing of course, you've got two Houstonians representing the Rockets, our hometown team," House Jr. said after the game. "It's always a good joy to play with one another, especially him (Gerald Green). Like I said before, I've been knowing Gerald since middle school. So to be able to watch him on T.V, blow the cupcake out on his dunk, to sitting on the side of him in the locker room and talking to him and him coaching me up and keeping it real with me, it's an honor, it's a blessing and it's a memory that's going to last forever for me."

The Blazers raced to a 27-12 lead midway through the first quarter; but, Green, House Jr, and Nenê combined for 8 points during a 15-2 run to slice Houston's deficit to just two points (27-25) after the first quarter.

Houston trailed 54-51 at halftime. At halftime, the Blazers held a 9-6 edge in offensive rebounding. The Rockets kept the Blazers off the offensive boards in the third quarter: the Blazers had zero o-boards in the third. Houston led 81-78 after three quarters.

Nenê scored a lay-up (assist from Green) to begin the fourth quarter; and, House Jr scored three points during a 7-0 spurt which increased Houston's lead to 88-78 with 10:17 left in the 4th period.

Houston stretched the margin to 17 (100-83) with 6:48 remaining in the game; however, Portland responded with a 14-2 run to trim Houston's lead to 102-97 with 2:56 to go in the game.

Portland did not get closer than five points the rest of the ball game.

"From top to bottom. Everybody came in and did their part on both ends of the floor," James Harden said. "When you get after it, especially on the defensive end from everybody, it creates opportunities for everybody. (Danuel) House (Jr.) got out in transition; Gerald (Green) made some good shots. Everybody played well, Nenê."

With tonight's win, Houston improves to 12-14 this season. Portland's record is now 15-12.

"It really doesn't matter whether I start or come off the bench," Eric Gordon said. (Gordon was inserted into the starting lineup tonight in place of James Ennis.) "I just like our effort today. We really got after it today; and, offensively, we moved the ball better and defensively we really got after it. That's what really got us to win."

NOTES:

Chris Paul had 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists marking the 15th triple-double of his career and his second as a Rocket (18/10/10 vs. Utah on 12/18/17). He also had just one turnover tonight and has 18 assists with 3 turnovers over the past two games after having 12 assists with 10 turnovers the two games prior. The Rockets are 6-0 when Paul has 10+ assists this season (15-1 in 2017-18).

James Harden had a team-high 29 points with just 2 turnovers tonight. He averaged 6.3 tpg over the four games prior. Harden is averaging 32.5 ppg on 47.0% shooting (39.2% 3FGs) over the past 12 games after averaging 27.3 ppg on 41.2% shooting (35.2% 3FGs) over his first 11 games played this season.

NEXT

The Rockets' next game is Thursday, December 13, at home, versus the LA Lakers. Game time is 7 p.m.

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