Houston Rockets: James Harden dominates in win over New Orleans Pelicans

James Harden #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

James Harden’s big fourth quarter leads the Houston Rockets to a 122-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

After starting just 3-3, the Houston Rockets are on a four-game winning streak and are tied for third place in the Western Conference. Admittedly, Houston has played four bad teams in each of those wins, as both Chicago and Memphis are rebuilding and both Golden State and New Orleans were without multiple starters.

Speaking of New Orleans, the Houston Rockets beat the Pelicans 122-116 in the Big Easy. The Rockets shot just 12-for-41 from the 3-point line, but they made 22 free throws and they shot 51.8 percent from the field overall.

Five players finished in double-figures for Houston, but it was James Harden’s huge fourth quarter that sealed the win for the Rockets. Let’s take a look at the grades for each individual Rockets player.

Next: The starters

Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

RUSSELL WESTBROOK. B+. <a href=. Point Guard. Houston Rockets

James Harden struggled early in this game, as he finished the first quarter with just two points. However, Harden started to find his rhythm in the second and third quarters before taking over the game in the fourth. Harden scored 15 consecutive points over the span of nearly four minutes in the final period. The final score was 122-116 after the Pelicans’ made a very late game run, but Harden’s explosion put the game out of New Orleans’ reach. The Beard finished with 39 points, four rebounds and nine assists.. Shooting Guard. Houston Rockets. JAMES HARDEN. A

Small forward. Houston Rockets. DANUEL HOUSE. N/A. <a href=

Houston Rockets. P.J. TUCKER. B-. <a href=. Power Forward

A. <a href=. Center. Houston Rockets. CLINT CAPELA

Next: The bench

Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard. Houston Rockets. ERIC GORDON. A-. Obviously, <a href=

B+. <a href=. Point Guard. Houston Rockets. AUSTIN RIVERS

<a href=. Shooting Guard. Houston Rockets. BEN MCLEMORE. C-

Tyson Chandler and Thabo Sefolosha played just 15 combined minutes in this game, so we won’t give them individual grades. However, Chandler moved well on defense and the Rockets outscored the Pelicans by 22 points when Chandler was on the floor, a team-high.

The Rockets have had an extremely easy schedule over the past four games after playing the Grizzlies, Warriors, Bulls and Pelicans. They’ll face the Clippers on Wednesday, but fortunately Paul George won’t make his season debut until Thursday. After that, they have matchups with the Pacers and Timberwolves, who are both 6-4 to start the season.

6 Players the Rockets could call up from the Vipers. Next

The Rockets will need more magic from Harden, Westbrook and Capela in order to keep their winning streak alive going forward.

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