Houston Rockets 105 Golden State Warriors 83-Recap

Dec 6, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets small forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives the ball during the first quarter as Golden State Warriors small forward Harrison Barnes (40) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets 105 Golden State Warriors 85

All it took was a couple of disappointing losses to the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns for the Houston Rockets to find their winning ways. Coming off their worst offensive performance against the Suns in which they shot just 29 percent from the field for the game, the Rockets bounced back to shoot 52 percent in the first half and took a 61-37 at the end of the 1st half.

James Harden, fresh off a 3 for 17 shooting performance, found his form as he led the way with 34 points and 7 rebounds, while also making a commitment on the defensive end, holding Harrison Barnes to just 14 points on 5 of 15 shooting. Dwight Howard finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds, while Terrence Jones added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rockets shot a blistering 60 percent from the field in the 1st quarter, while stifling the Warriors on defense, holding them to just 20 percent shooting. Leading 31-12 heading into the 2nd quarter, the Rockets turned up the notch defensively, forcing 7 Warriors’ turnovers, and limiting them to just one 3-pointer made. Even though the halftime lead was at 24, there still remained a sense of un-comfort as the Warriors came back from a 27 point deficit Tuesday night to beat the Toronto Raptors.

Golden State Warriors

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

22

4-7

0-0

3-4

1

2

3

0

0

0

1

1

-20

11

36

5-16

0-2

4-4

1

6

7

2

4

1

3

3

-24

14

18

2-3

0-0

0-0

2

3

5

0

0

1

0

5

-18

4

32

5-14

1-5

11-11

0

1

1

5

3

0

8

4

-12

22

35

2-10

0-4

1-1

0

3

3

1

1

0

3

4

-16

5

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

21

3-9

0-0

3-4

2

5

7

0

0

1

1

1

+1

9

30

0-4

0-1

1-2

2

6

8

1

0

0

1

4

-3

1

17

2-5

0-0

1-4

2

3

5

0

0

0

1

2

0

5

11

0-2

0-1

0-0

0

1

1

0

0

0

2

1

-12

0

17

4-6

1-3

3-4

0

3

3

1

1

0

2

2

-6

12

DNP LEFT HAMSTRING STRAIN

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   13
Points in the paint:   36
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   22 (23)

Houston Rockets

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

35

5-8

0-0

12-20

6

12

18

1

3

1

3

2

+22

22

31

7-12

1-4

1-2

3

7

10

1

3

3

0

2

+19

16

34

3-13

2-5

0-0

1

3

4

5

3

0

2

5

+6

8

33

2-6

0-3

2-4

1

0

1

0

2

0

3

4

+13

6

40

13-22

1-3

7-9

0

7

7

4

1

1

4

2

+25

34

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

13

3-7

0-3

3-4

2

1

3

0

0

0

0

1

0

9

3

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

+5

0

17

1-4

0-2

0-0

0

2

2

1

1

0

2

3

+3

2

17

3-7

2-5

0-0

1

0

1

2

1

0

1

1

+8

8

18

0-4

0-3

0-0

0

6

6

1

0

4

0

1

+9

0

DNP SPRAINED RIGHT KNEE

DNP RIGHT THIGH CONTUSION

DNP SPRAINED RIGHT KNEE

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   22
Points in the paint:   54
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   16 (15)

Kent Bazemore scored off 12 points the bench in the 2nd half, and helped bring the Warriors within 95-79 with 4 minutes left. But Harden drained a 3 on the ensuing possession to push the Rockets’ lead to 19 that sealed the game.

The story of the night, however, was the Rockets’ defense, as they forced 22 turnovers and held the Warriors to just 35 percent shooting for the game.

While both teams came in to the game as 2 of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league, but the 3-point line was not friendly. The Warriors finished shooting just 13 percent(2 for 16) from behind the arc, while the Rockets shot just 21 percent(6 for 28).

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 22 points and 5 assists, but shot just 5 for 14 from the field(1 for 5 from the 3-point line), while Klay Thompson was held to just 5 points on 2 for 10 shooting.

The Rockets will meet the Warriors again next friday in Oakland.