Harden's 37 points plus Paul's 14 dimes and 0 assists help Rockets top Nets, 117-103

Posted: November 27, 2017 -- 10:44 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden had a first quarter for the record books which propelled the Rockets to a 117-103 win Monday night over the Brooklyn Nets. Harden scored 20 points in the first quarter on perfect shooting 7 for 7 field goal shooting (including 5 for 5 from three-point range). Harden also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

20 points; 5 rebounds; and 4 assists. In the first quarter.

Mike D'Antoni said Harden's first quarter was the best performance he has ever seen.

With Harden's 20 points, the Rockets led the Nets 43-26 after the first quarter. Houston led by as much as 21 points (38-17) in the opening 12 minutes.

The Nets (7-13) switched to more zone defense in the second quarter; and, the Rockets' hot-shooting cooled off in the quarter.

"They went zone. It was throwing us for a loop," James Harden said in the locker room after the game. "We weren't making shots; and, then, that zone kind of messed us up a little bit. So, they got a lot of easy buckets; a lot of easy layups; and, that's something we can correct.

"If they're making tough shots over us, that's different. But, they were getting a lot of easy layups; and, we weren't helping each other out. So, we can correct that."

After shooting 64.0% (16 for 25) in the first period, the Rockets shot 34.8% (8 for 23) in the second. The Nets shot 61.9% (13 for 21) in the second and outscored the Rockets 29-23.

Houston led 66-55 at halftime.

"I just didn't think that we played well defensively, especially in the first half," said Mike D'Antoni. "The second quarter especially. Then, when you don't play, you can just see some of the energy went out. You know it ticks me off a little bit; but, we did a pretty good job. So, I'll take it."

The Nets began the third quarter with a 12-5 run to reduce the Rockets' lead to 4 points (71-67) with 9:08 remaining in the quarter.

Trevor Ariza knocked down a three-point shot then scored a layup to begin a 9-0 Rockets' run to boost the lead to 13 points with 6:14 on the game clock.

The Nets inched within 10 (83-73); however, Harden scored 7 points during a 12-2 run to put the Rockets on top by 20 points (95-75) with 1:19 left in the third stanza.

The Rockets took a 96-80 lead into the fourth period.

The Rockets kept the Nets at arms'-length in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn never got closer than 14 points while leading by as much as 22 points in the quarter.

Harden finished the game with 37 points in 36 minutes. In the 12 games in November, Harden is averaging 35.4 points on 47.7% field goal shooting. Harden also grabbed 10 rebounds for his 10th double-double of this season.

Chris Paul had 14 assists and 2 steals with 0 turnovers. Paul has recorded 14 plus assists without a turnover eight times in his career -- all coming since the start of the 2008-'09 season. Over that span, no other player has accomplished that feat more than five times (Rajon Rondo). Paul has 65 assists and 13 steals with just 7 turnovers in his six games played this season. His assist-to-turnover ratio is 9.29.

"We had some bad stretches there (in the game)," Chris Paul said after the game. "We can't always just rely on our offense; but, we'll take the win. Every game is different. Right now, we're just trying to pile up wins."

For the third time this season, Clint Capela scored 20 points in a game. Last season, Capela scored 20 plus points seven times. The Rockets have had at least two players score 20 plus points in 17 of their 20 games this season.

The Rockets have won five straight games and improve to 16-4 this season. Houston has won each of the past five games by double-digits, which is the third-longest streak in franchise history. The Rockets are outscoring opponents by an average of 16.4 points per game in November (11-1 record) and by 10.3 points per game overall this season.

The Rockets next game is a home match-up this Wednesday, November 29th, versus the Indiana Pacers. Tip is set for 7 p.m.The Rockets next game is versus the Brooklyn Nets, Monday, November 27, at 7 p.m.

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