Rockets wallop Warriors, 140-109

Posted: February 5, 2013 -- 10:04 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX -- The Houston Rockets tied an NBA record by making 23 three-point shots in one game in a 140-109 molly-whopping of the Golden State Warriors.

The only defense displayed by the Warriors happened in the final three minutes when they fouled repeatedly to keep the Rockets from attempting (and making) the 24th three-point basket. Things got a bit chippy. Tempers flared. Marcus Morris and Draymond Green were ejected. (Green was whistled for a flagrant-two foul against Patrick Beverly.)

However, after the game, Kevin McHale said he had no problem with the Warriors' fouling. McHale said Mark Jackson, Warriors' head coach, did what he felt was the right thing to do.

The first quarter was defense optional. The Rockets led 38-37 after 12 minutes as they made seven of 10 three-point attempts.

The second quarter was all Rockets (27-23). The Rockets shot 7 for 8 from the three-point line to finish the first half with an astonishing 14 for 18 performance from the Land of Three. (The 14 made threes in the first half tied an NBA record.)

Golden State's Stephen Curry made a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer to trim the Rockets' halftime lead to 77-62. (The 77 first-half points set a Rockets' Toyota Center record.)

David Lee scored the first points of the third quarter to trim the Rockets' lead to 13 points; but, Jeremy Lin scored seven of his game-high 28 points during a 10-0 Rockets' run to increase the lead to 87-64.

Once Donatas Motiejunas sank three-pointer number 23 with 3:41 left in the ball game, the Warriors (30-18) went into prevent-mode and kept the Rockets from sinking number 24.

"We're not going to lay down," Mark Jackson said after the game. "I'm an old school basketball player and an old school coach. If you can't appreciate that, that's on you. We're not going to lay down. If you're going to try to get the record, we're going to stop it. There is a way to do it, that's all. Understand it; appreciate it; and, I would expect nothing less if I was on the other side. As a team, we're learning. It's nothing personal; but, we have a goal and we have a mindset. And, this is not last year's Warriors."

"We got out played. They made shots. Give them credit; move forward; and, we play tomorrow night. We own it. We didn't play well. Give them credit. By no means are we going to accept giving up that many points and giving up open threes and transition shots.

We're disappointed in that; and, we're going to get better at that. Some night, it's not your night; and, it wasn't ours and we didn't play particularly well. That doesn't mean lay down and surrender. That's not in our DNA."

The Rockets finished the game with 35 assists on 46 made baskets.

The Rockets play at Golden State next Tuesday.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.