Dragic, Parsons lead Rockets' rout of Warriors

[March 23, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Rookie Chandler Parsons had 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a 109-83 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

Goran Dragic added 17 points and nine assists for the Rockets, who dominated the Warriors inside, outrebounding Golden State 48-31 and scoring 58 points in the paint. Luis Scola scored 18 and Samuel Dalembert added 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Richard Jefferson scored 14 points and David Lee added 12 for the Warriors, who've lost five of their last six games.

The Rockets maintained their hold on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference by beating Golden State for the 13th time in the last 15 meetings. The Warriors have lost seven straight games in Houston dating to December 2007.

The Rockets hit 11 of their first 14 shots, most of them from close range, to quickly build a 14-point lead. The Warriors gave away five turnovers in the first nine minutes to help Houston widen the gap.

Scola started 5 for 6 from the field and flipped in an easy hook shot for a 30-16 lead.

Golden State rallied in the second quarter against a Houston lineup of mostly reserves. Jefferson finished a fast break with a dunk and swished a 3-pointer during a 17-5 run that cut the deficit to 37-35.

Dragic and Parsons answered with back-to-back 3-pointers and the Rockets extended the lead again. Parsons, Scola and Dragic were all in double figures by halftime and Houston led 56-47. The Rockets scored 34 points in the paint in the first half.

Scola started the second half with a three-point play, following a hard collision with Lee. Scola broke free for a layup on Houston's next possessions, as the Warriors continued to give up easy baskets underneath.

Nate Robinson was called for a flagrant foul when he wrestled down Dragic on a breakaway. Dragic landed hard on his tailbone and slid into the base of the stanchion, but he stayed in the game.

Houston's left-handed point guard then threw a perfect alley-oop pass to Dalembert for a dunk for a 68-53 lead five minutes into the third quarter. Dragic sank a 3-pointer later in the quarter to stretch the lead over 20 for the first time.

The Rockets outrebounded the Warriors 15-4 in the third quarter and took an 84-67 lead to the fourth. Houston's reserves kept control in the final quarter, and rookie Marcus Morris' mid-range jumper with 4:19 left put the Rockets over 100 points for the sixth time in eight games.

NOTES: Dragic made his seventh straight start for Kyle Lowry, who's recovering from an illness. ... Rockets G Kevin Martin sat out for the sixth straight game with a right shoulder strain. ... The Rockets honored their "Team of the 1990s" -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Kenny Smith, Mario Elie and Robert Horry -- with the unveiling of a mural in a pregame ceremony. "It shows how classy the organization is, by honoring the winning culture, the winning attitude," Olajuwon said. "It's beautiful." ... Golden State signed free agent center Mickell Gladness to a 10-day contract. ... Warriors C Andris Biedrins (strained groin) sat out for the second straight game.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.