Harden Scores 31 as Rockets Rout Lakers 112-95

Houston’s tumultuous season reached the midpoint Friday with a 91-77 loss to Cleveland that ended a five-game win streak.

The Rockets (22-20) are 18-13 under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over after Kevin McHale was sacked on November 18. “And on the offensive end, we were really stagnant”. “We have to continue to do a better job of attacking and putting teams on their heels”.

Example: James Harden not passing the ball inside with center Dwight Howard matched up against point guard Matthew Dellavedova. He’s averaging an impressive 19.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game on 66.3 percent shooting over his last eight games and he’s the second star component that makes Houston a team you can’t completely count out, even now. Although a lot of players might sit out through what Bryant is going through, but Bryant only has the next few months left of his basketball career and then it is over. Forward Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder and strained right Achilles) is questionable.

“It’s important to try and get out there and play if I can”, Bryant said.

“I dish. It’s on them whether they make it or not”, Bryant said of his teammates. “I just tweaked it and couldn’t shake it lose tonight”. Julius Randle, who started in place of injured Larry Nance Jr., finished with a double-double (12 points and 11 rebounds) in 27 minutes. He remains the Lakers’ all-time scorer with 33,054 points, a mark that also ranks third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

When asked about his seeming comeback performance as of late, the 30-year-old has recently said, “Earlier in the season, missing most of the preseason, not being able to get in a rhythm, not being able to practice (is) very tough to go out there in the game and perform”.

They have good quarters. Chris Paul had a surprisingly quiet game of just 15 points and seven assists but he’ll surely bounce back as he’s averaging 20.2 points and 11.2 assists in his last give games.

“We attacked the basket”, said Howard, who helped the Rockets produce a 70-46 advantage on points in the paint. “And tonight I don’t think we did that”. The Lakers’ offense was surprisingly effective through the first half, with Kobe Bryant dishing out seven assists in the first quarter alone.