Harden and Rockets outduel Cousins and Kings, 115-111

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets needed nearly all of James Harden's career-high 51 points Wednesday night in the 115-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Harden's performance was as efficient as it was sensational. Harden made 16 of 25 field goals (including 8 for 9 from three) and added 8 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure.

Harden became the first Rockets' player in franchise history to score 52 points twice in the same season.

"It's a great honor; a great individual honor," Harden said. "Credit to my teammates. Guys try to get me the ball in great spots and finding me on backdoor plays and things like that. Setting great screens for me. I try to go out there and give it my all every single night and hopefully those guys can be with me."

"He made some big shots. He was eight for nine from the three (point line). You can't shoot it much better than that," Kevin McHale said after the game.

The Rockets led the Kings 13-3 before the Kings went on a 18-9 run to cut the Rockets' lead to 22-21. Then, Harden scored 8 points during a 13-4 spurt which gave the Rockets a 35-25 lead after the first quarter.

Early in the 2nd period, the Rockets (51-24) raced to a 46-27 lead; then, the Rockets' defense took a siesta as Sacramento beat the Rockets in transition for easy baskets as well as dominated the paint and scored 24 points in the paint in the second quarter. Over the last 9:23 of the second period, the Rockets were outscored 28-12. The Rockets took a 58-55 lead into halftime.

The third quarter featured three ties; and, after the game was tied at 72, Harden exploded for 14 points during a 25-14 Rockets' run which gave the Rockets a 97-86 lead after three quarter.

Terrence Jones nailed a three-point shot to begin the scoring in the fourth quarter; however, the Rockets' offense snoozed for nearly five minutes as they scored only four points over the next five minutes which allowed the Kings to creep within two (104-102) points with 5:50 remaining in the game.

After a timeout, Harden scored eight consecutive points to give the Rockets a 10 point lead with 4:04 remaining in the game. The Rockets turned the ball over three times in the final four minutes; but, the Kings did not get any closer than four points.

Trevor Ariza scored 22 points (6 for 14 from three) and Terrence Jones added 16 points, 7 rebounds, and a career-high 7 blocked shots.

DeMarcus Cousins led seven Kings' players in double-digit points as he tallied 24 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 blocked shots.

"Man, it was fun to watch. Both of those guys are very talented players," Trevor Ariza said of Cousins and Harden's performances. "It was fun to watch, I'm not going to lie. DeMarcus Cousins is so skilled. To be a big man, he can really play basketball. Being out there, watching them play, it was fun to watch."

The Rockets were manhandled on the boards 57-42; and, the Kings scored an opponent's season-high 72 points in the paint.

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