|
 Howard delivered a clinic in post scoring and paced a dominating
interior performance by the Rockets in their 122-108 victory over
the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Howard recorded his 32nd double-double, with 34 points and 14
rebounds, and combined with forward Terrence Jones (19 points, nine
rebounds) to shoot 19-for-29 from the floor. Houston (33-17) hit 11
of 16 3-pointers, but the overwhelming edge inside was crucial and
emblematic of the upward trajectory Howard has been on of late.
During the Rockets' four-game winning streak, Howard is averaging 26
points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 59.3 percent from the floor
and 64.5 percent from the line. It's a small yet tantalizing sample
size.
"We did a better job tonight," Howard said. "We just gotta do it
both ways, get up and down, get some points in transition, work the
pick-and-roll and also post up. Once we get all three things figured
out on the offensive end and on the defensive end get stops, then we
will become a better team."
The Suns (29-20) erased a 12-point deficit in the first quarter and
led by as many as six points midway through the second before slowly
succumbing to their interior ineptitude. Phoenix kept pace with its
breathtaking transition offense prior to the intermission, but after
running the Rockets ragged in the first half, the Suns mustered just
one fast-break point in the final two quarters — zero in the
decisive fourth.
Rockets guard James Harden added 23 points, including hitting all 12
free throw attempts, while forward Chandler Parsons had 19 points,
seven rebounds and six assists. Houston hit 33 of 42 free throws
(78.6 percent) and finished with a plus-7 advantage in fast-break
points.
"We didn't stop anybody," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "We didn't
stop anybody (Tuesday) night either (in a home loss to the Chicago
Bulls). Our defense hasn't been very good. Houston shot 55 percent
and got whatever they wanted."
Guard Goran Dragic led six Suns in double figures, with 23 points,
while adding eight assists and six rebounds. Twins Markieff Morris
and Marcus Morris chipped in 12 and 11 bench points, respectively.
Phoenix reserves combined for 46 points to outpace the Houston bench
by 27.
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Clearly intent upon setting a tempo that eluded them during their
first meeting with Phoenix, a 97-88 home loss Dec. 4, the Rockets
raced to a double-digit lead by the 9:38 mark of the first quarter.
Guard Patrick Beverley capped the opening salvo by hitting a
3-pointer for a 12-2 lead.
While Harden and Howard sat early in the second quarter, Phoenix ran
wild, closing the half with 17 fast-break points and eventually
surging to a 46-40 lead before Howard scored inside to stall an 18-5
Phoenix rally.
Largely thanks to Howard, the Rockets led 66-63 at the intermission.
In the third quarter, Howard led the way to workable margin with
back-to-back baskets in the restricted area for an 87-78 lead with
4:13 to play.
The Suns closed to within 95-92 early in the fourth on Markieff
Morris' jumper before Howard scored on a hook shot to spark the
final push.
"We just have to work on passing the ball to him, being better post
feeders," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "I thought we hit him a
couple of times."
Said Dragic: "Their bigs, they can all stretch the floor and then
they were able to put the ball in Howard's hands and it's kind of
tough to double team. He's a tough cover."
NOTES: Suns G Goran Dragic might have taken some observers by
surprise this season with averages of 20.1 points and 6.0 assists
but Rockets coach Kevin McHale isn't among that group. During his
final season in Houston (2011-12), Dragic averaged 18.0 points and
8.4 assists while starting 28 games as G Kyle Lowry battled injury.
"I saw Goran do the same thing — when Kyle was hurt here — with us
about the same level," McHale said. "It was very impressive. I've
seen him do it before." ... The Rockets expect C Omer Asik to return
to practice without restriction later this week. Asik missed his
33rd game Wednesday night and hasn't played since Dec. 2 while
battling right thigh/knee woes. ... Phoenix entered Wednesday 10-8
without G Eric Bledsoe (right knee), another accomplishment in their
resurgent season. "The chemistry is pretty good between our guys,"
Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "We play hard, for the most part, and
during this stretch we've done a good job of taking care of the
ball."
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