Harden's 40 points helps Rockets top Hornets for 9th straight win

Posted: January 10, 2017 -- 10:34 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets blew a 23 point lead Tuesday night; but, Ryan Anderson's three-point bucket and James Harden's driving layup propelled the Rockets to a 121-114 win over an announced crowd of 16,196 fans.

After Sam Dekker's three-point basket at the 10:03 mark of the fourth quarter, the Rockets (31-9) led 103-83.

Then, the Hornets started heating up; and, just as important, the Rockets cooled off.

The Hornets made six of 7 shots to cut the Rockets' lead to 13 (108-95) with 7:11 on the clock.

Montrezl Harrell scored a layup with 6:18. The Rockets did not score again until 2:26 remained in the game.

Kemba Walker, Frank Kaminski, and Marco Belinelli each made a three-point shot to reduce the Rockets' lead to six (110-104). Marvin Williams scored a layup to cut the lead to 4.

After Corey Brewer missed a 3-foot driving layup, Walker finger-rolled a layup to trim the Rockets' lead to just 2 (110-108).

Harden missed a three-point shot; then, Walker passed to a wide-open Kaminski and Kaminski rattled in a three-point shot to give the Hornets a 111-110 lead with 2:26 on the game clock.

Rockets' Head coach Mike D'Antoni called timeout; and, after the stoppage, Harden passed to Ryan Anderson in the corner. Anderson swished three to end the Rockets' 4 minute scoreless drought.

On the Hornets' next possession, Walker's driving layup was stuffed by Montrezl Harrell; and, Harden attacked the basket and scored a driving layup to put the Rockets up 115-111 with 1:51 remaining.

Then, Harrell blocked Walker's three-point shot attempt; but, Patrick Beverley was whistled for a loose ball foul. Walker took advantage of the extra possession and swished a three-point shot over Beverley.

Harden responded with another driving layup for a 117-114 lead with only 28.6 seconds remaining.

Kaminski forced a three-point shot and Harden grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Since the Hornets were not in the bonus, the Hornets were forced to foul one more time and Montrezl Harrell went to the line for two shots.

Harrell made both free throws for a 119-114 lead. Belinelli missed a 3 and Harden grabbed his 12th and final rebound of the game and was fouled. He sank both free throws to finish the scoring and end the game with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the fourth player (Pistol Pete Maravich, Michael Jordan, and Russell Westbrook) in NBA history to have scored 40 plus points while posting a triple-double in consecutive ball games. Harden has five triple-doubles over the past seven games and 11 overall this season. During the Rockets' current nine-game winning streak, Harden is averaging 32.4 points, 11.4 assists, and 9.9 rebounds (one rebound shy of averaging 10 boards per game -- averaging a triple-double).

The Rockets have scored 120 plus points in each of the past two games and 16 times this season -- which is tied for highest total in franchise history since doing so 23 times in the 1985-'86 season. The Rockets improve to 22-2 when scoring 110 points plus this season.

The Hornets made 19 three-pointers in tonight's game while the Rockets made 17 threes which is just the fourth time this season the Rockets have made fewer three-point shots than their opponent and their first win.

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