James Harden's 38 points leads Rockets in rout of Wizards

Posted: April 3, 2018 -- 11:51 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden almost messed around and got his fifth triple-double of this season with a 38 point, 10 rebound, 9 assist virtuoso performance in the Rockets' 120-104 win over the Washington Wizards Tuesday night. Harden's numbers came in 34 minutes of action.

It is still Harden’s third double-double over his past four games played after he had two his previous nine games played.  Harden shot 5-of-8 from 3-point range tonight after shooting 6-of-40 from behind-the-arc his previous five games played.  He has hit 5 or more 3-point field goals 24 times this season, which is the fourth-highest single season total in NBA history (Stephen Curry holds the top three spots).

"Well, I had a feeling. We just watched him for two years, you know he’s not going to have too many bad games in a row. Never done that."

After the game, Harden said he didn't have any special sense he'd break out of his mini-slump tonight and have a great game.

"No, I was just being aggressive," Harden said. "(I) didn’t want to have a repeat of what happened on Sunday. Kind of came out a little sluggish. They (the Spurs) put the pressure on us; and, we didn’t want to allow that to happen again. We understand we’ve got to change our mentality and kind of get into playoff mode and come out with some aggressiveness and kind of take control of the game in that first quarter and we tried to do that tonight."

Clint Capela had 21 points and 10 rebounds tonight, marking his second straight double-double and his 40th overall this season.  The Rockets improve to 25-2 when he scores 15 or more points this season, including 12-0 when he scores 20 or more.  Capela scored 15 or more points a total of 25 times his first three seasons, including 20 or more seven times.  He also had 2 blocks tonight and is averaging 2.89 blocks per game over his past nine games played.  He is second in the NBA with 1.89 blocks per game.

The Rockets led the Wizards 35-24 after the first quarter. Harden scored 10 points in the opening period.

The Rockets led 25-22 with 3:34 remaining in the quarter; however, a 10-0 run in less than three minutes stretched the lead to 13 points before the Wizards scored the final two points of the quarter.

Harden scored 14 points in the second period. He and the Rockets toyed with the Wizards' defense and scored inside (6 points in the paint); outside 15 points on 5 three-point shots; and 9 points at the foul line.

The Rockets outscored the Wizards 36-25 in the second quarter and led the Wiz 71-49 at halftime.

Houston improved to 33-4 when scoring 60 or more first half points this season, including 5-0 with 70 or more.

In the second half, the Wizards double-teamed Harden when he had the ball to force him to pass the ball. The strategy worked a few times; however, Harden still got his points.

"It was a great player (James Harden) playing special," said Scott Brooks, Washington Wizards Head Coach. "He had everything going, we tried switching, we tried trapping we tried everything on him. And, then he was making tough step-back threes. He’s made them all year; he’s a great player. We couldn’t find anything on the offensive end, and you have to be able to score against this team, because they put up some many points. Tonight, we just didn’t have enough to match their scoring. We turned the ball over too many times, and we gave up a lot of good looking threes for them, and like I said James got hot, and he got hot throughout the game. They are a great team, they have a great team, and they are as good as anybody we’ve played all year.

The Wizards scored the first nine points of the third quarter to pull within 15 points of the Rockets (73-58); however, the Rockets responded with a 17-8 burst to increase the lead to 24 (90-66) with 3:06 left in the quarter. Gerald Green banked in a three-point shot for the 24 point lead.

Houston led 95-75 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Wizards sliced Houston's lead to 13 points (104-91) with 7:11 remaining. Then, Harden scored 9 consecutive points on two step back three-point baskets and a driving reverse lay-up plus the free throw for a 113-93 lead with 5:20 remaining.

"James (Harden) did a really good job breaking the defense down and making the open play," Gerald Green said after the game. "Guys were hitting shots. If we keep moving the ball like that, keep being aggressive, keep moving the ball, man it’s always going to be like that for us. We’ve just got to keep playing the way we play, lock up on the other end, not allow easy baskets and just play the way we play. We’ll be fine."

Green scored 16 points in the game in 23 minutes. Green made 4 of his 8 three-point attempts.

Head Coach Mike D'Antoni didn't envision Green would have such a huge impact for the Rockets this season.

"We’ll I didn’t envision it, because he was lying on his couch, I don’t think he could do that," D'Antoni said. "Obviously, he’s earned a lot of trust from everybody. The thing I like about him is just that, he’ll play 15 minutes and get 10 threes up, and probably will make a bunch of them. So, he’s instant offense and we need that, and he’s trying on defense, he’s athletic and he can run the floor. There’s a lot, he’s a heck of a good player. We got lucky with him, very lucky."

James Harden said of Green's play this season: "It’s difficult, but for a guy like Gerald (Green) who has so much pride and love for his city, it’s easy. He goes out here and works his butt off, working on his game and then an opportunity."

Houston has won 19 straight at home with two games remaining at Toyota Center this season.  The franchise record for consecutive home wins is 21 (April 14, 1985 to January 11, 1986) and 20 in a single season.  Over the past 19 home games, the Rockets are outscoring opponents 112.6 points per game to 99.9.

The Rockets next game is Thursday, April 5, versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

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