The recent slump appears to be over for Houston Rockets guard James Harden, who had 40 points in Sunday’s 117-109 victory (box score) over New Orleans on 50% shooting from the field and 46.7% on 3-pointers.
It was Harden’s first time shooting 50% or better from the field in his last 12 games. Prior to that, in late December and early January, the former MVP had shot 50% or better in a career-high seven consecutive games.
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Harden also made seven of 15 attempts (46.7%) from 3-point range, representing a second straight game in which he’s exceeded 40% from behind the arc. Before that, the NBA’s current scoring leader had topped 40% on 3-pointers just once in his prior 10 games.
Sunday’s victory didn’t come easily for the undersized Rockets, who were again without starting center Clint Capela due to a heel injury. In Capela’s absence, they once again slid P.J. Tucker to center and inserted Danuel House Jr. to Tucker’s usual spot at power forward.
Danuel House Jr. (@DanuelHouseJr) says his team-high 12 rebounds were more important to the undersized #Rockets than his late 3-pointers.
On what changed for his role with Capela out: “I became CC. … I’ll do anything that it takes for us to win.” #OneMission pic.twitter.com/V0oVkJbIpU
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 2, 2020
Facing a large and athletic team in the Pelicans, the Rockets were out-rebounded by a big margin, 63-43. All-Star forward Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while prized rookie Zion Williamson had 21 points and 10 rebounds in his sixth career game.
But despite the huge margin for the game overall, Harden and the Rockets turned it up when it mattered. After the Pelicans won the first-half rebounding battle, 35-14, Houston out-rebounded them in the second half. House led the Rockets with a career-high 12 rebounds, and he also had a dagger 3-pointer in the final minute to put the game away.
Harden chipped in on the glass with 10 rebounds, and he led the Rockets with a team-high nine assists, as well. The Pelicans scored just 16 points in the game’s final quarter, allowing Houston to slowly pull away.
Mike D’Antoni says the athletic, “over the top” rebounds from Danuel House Jr. (@DanuelHouseJr) were critical to the #Rockets fourth quarter defense. pic.twitter.com/Mo5svLMKsF
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) February 2, 2020
James Harden on how tough it was for the smaller #Rockets to beat the Pelicans despite being out-rebounded by 20:
“We did?” [laughs]
“Very tough. But I think we did a good job of limiting our turnovers. … They’re a good team.”
New Orleans had won three straight going in. pic.twitter.com/qcfd0NKz7N
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) February 2, 2020
To Harden’s point about turnovers, the Rockets had only seven as a team. It’s the second consecutive game in which Houston took great care of the ball, having turned it over just six times in Friday’s victory over Dallas.
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Russell Westbrook had 22 points and seven assists, though there was some concern postgame since he his left thumb was heavily wrapped. There was no immediate update on his status, and Westbrook did not offer many specifics, other than pointing out that the injury occurred when a Pelicans player swiped at the basketball and hit him instead.
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Ben McLemore had 22 points off the Houston bench, headlined by a 4-of-9 (44.4%) showing from 3-point range.
Sunday was the fifth victory in seven games for the Rockets (31-18), while it ended a three-game winning streak for the Pelicans (20-30).
The Rockets return to action Tuesday night when the Charlotte Hornets (16-33) visit Houston. At this juncture, be it for injury reasons, trade talks, or both, it would seem unlikely for Capela to play in that game after missing three of Houston’s last four contests overall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.
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