The Houston Roundball Review Media Group covers sports by: Kris Gardner. Credentialed media member since 1997. USBWA approved online journalist. Voter of Naismith, USBWA, WBHOF, and Wooden awards.
Rockets blast Pelicans, 114-91, for franchise-record 59th win of the regular season
Posted: March 24, 2018 -- 11:25 pm CDT.
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets led the entire way Saturday night in a 114-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Houston never trailed tonight, marking the eighth time that has occurred this season. The win sets the franchise record for most wins in a single season with 59 wins -- with 9 games remaining.Houston also never trailed tonight, marking the eighth time that has occurred this season.
The 23 point margin of victory is the Rockets 13th win by 20 or more points this season, which is the third-highest total in franchise history (14 in 2006-07 and 2016-17). The Rockets are outscoring opponents by a league-best 9.0 ppg this season.
"I just told them (about the 59th win). They (the Rockets players) didn't care," said Houston Head Coach Mike D'Antoni (laughing). "I thought it was nice. They absolutely did not care."
Clint Capela had 18 points, 16 rebounds, a career-high tying 6 blocks and 3 steals. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first player to post those numbers in 28 or fewer minutes of play since steals and blocks became an official statistic in 1973-74.
The Rockets improve to 24-2 when Capela has 15 plus points this season and 20-0 when he records 3 or more blocks. Tonight marked Capela's fifth double-double over the past six games.
"Clint (Capela) was amazing, I thought his energy was off the charts," D'Antoni added. "We played a heck of a lot better than we did Thursday, and I think they (New Orleans) had some dead legs out there. The schedule was not favorable for them, so took advantage of it, and I thought we played well enough. So, you know overall it was a good night."
"Amazing," James Harden added. "He’s been doing it all season and that’s why, one of the reasons why, we were in the position we are today, because of him. On both ends of the floor, defensively blocking shots, being active, offensively knowing where to roll and finishing offensive rebounds, variety of ways of impacting the game. And so, as we go further he continues to get better, and that’s what we need."
Gerald Green said of Capela, "That kid is special. He runs like a deer. Athletic as I don't know what. Very unselfish and always willing to work."
Capela and Harden set the tone early in the game with two alley-oop passes from Harden to Capela for slam dunks. Harden and Capela each scored 6 points in a 12-4 Rockets' run in the first 3:50 of the game.
Harden finished the first quarter with 12 points while Capela scored 8. The Rockets led the Pelicans 29-16 at the end of the opening quarter.
Houston (59-14) led 64-37 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Rockets made only 7 of 21 field goal attempts; and, the Pelicans (43-31) crawled within 14 points on two occasions; however, James Harden, Joe Johnson, and Gerald Green each made a three-point shot during a 9-1 burst to boost the margin to 22 points (83-61) with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Rockets led by as much as 29 points in the final period and cruised to the victory.
James Harden had 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes of play. It is the second time he has posted those numbers in 30 or fewer minutes played this season (vs. Denver on February 9, 2018). The rest of the league has accounted for two such games.
Ryan Anderson had 16 points off the bench while hitting four 3-pointers. It is his highest point total since missing nine games due to injury from February 26 to March 15. The Rockets improve to 11-1 when Anderson scores 15 or more points this season and 18-1 when he has at least 3 three-point baskets.
Eric Gordon had 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting tonight. Over the past three games, he is averaging 19.7 ppg on 47.8% shooting after having a total of 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting the two games prior. Gordon had 4 three-point baskets tonight and is averaging 3.5 over the past 13 games.
The Rockets next game is Sunday, March 25, versus the Atlanta Hawks, at 7 p.m.
