With Westbrook out, Harden’s 39 not enough in lethargic home loss

Playing their third game in four nights and second of a split back-to-back, the Rockets lacked their usual energy in a home loss to Detroit.

Playing their third game in a third city in four nights and the second of a split back-to-back, the Houston Rockets (17-9) lacked their usual energy in an uninspiring 115-107 home loss Saturday night to the Detroit Pistons.

The defeat (box score) snapped Houston’s winning streak at two games after wins Wednesday and Friday in Cleveland and Orlando, respectively.

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Former MVP Derrick Rose led the Pistons (11-15) with a throwback performance off the bench, posting 20 points and 12 assists in 26 minutes. Detroit led by a comfortable margin for most of the game.

James Harden scored a game-high 39 points, but the superstar Rockets guard didn’t seem to have his usual legs. The NBA’s scoring leader made just 4-of-13 three-pointers (30.8%), a night after hitting 10-of-15 (66.7%) in his 54-point outburst during Friday’s blowout win at Orlando.

“It is what it is,”Harden said when asked if the loss could be blamed on the schedule logistics. “We all know how difficult it is. You’ve got to just continue to play through it. It was a tough one for us tonight.”

Collectively, the Rockets made just 13-of-45 treys (29.5%) Saturday at Toyota Center after going 22-of-39 (56.4%) in Orlando on Friday.

 

Rookie guard Chris Clemons, who had relatively fresh legs after playing only three minutes on Friday, scored 17 points and hit 5-of-11 three-pointers (45.5%) off the bench. Outside of Clemons, though, the Rockets were just 8-of-34 from behind the three-point arc (23.5%).

“He made some big-time shots,” Harden said of Clemons. “His confidence continues to grow as he gets more minutes, and as he gets more comfortable on the floor. When his number is called, he’s ready to go.”

Despite 19 rebounds from Clint Capela amid the absence of usual Pistons starting center Andre Drummond (eye), the lethargic Rockets were still outrebounded by a 55-46 margin overall. Christian Wood led the Pistons with 13 rebounds in just 22 minutes off the bench.

Russell Westbrook sat out for planned maintenance after offseason knee surgery, as he’s done in one game of all back-to-backs so far this season. Westbrook entered Saturday on a hot streak, and his absence was especially significant in the team’s minutes without Harden (-11).

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The Rockets have an off day Sunday before wrapping up their current two-game homestand on Monday versus San Antonio (10-15).