HOUSTON -- James Harden matched the franchise record for career triple-doubles as the Houston Rockets blitzed the shorthanded Sacramento Kings 132-98 on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
The Rockets (19-7) won their eighth consecutive game and flirted with the NBA record for 3-pointers, hitting 22 of 42 from behind the arc while coasting to victory. Houston was scorching from deep at the opening tip, burying seven treys in the first quarter and extending their league record for consecutive games with at least 10 3-pointers at the 7:13 mark of the second quarter on a 3 from reserve Sam Dekker.
Harden finished with 15 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds to post his 14th career triple-double and match the mark set by Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. Harden needed only 30 minutes to produce his fifth triple-double on the season.
Forward Ryan Anderson led all five Houston starters in double figures with 22 points and was 4 for 7 from 3-point range. Forward Trevor Ariza added 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc while Dekker, a second-year forward, had a career-high 19 points.
The Kings (9-16) lost for the sixth time in eight games and played without center DeMarcus Cousins (rest), forward Rudy Gay (hip) and guard Ben McLemore (quad). Four starters reached double figures in points paced by guard Garret Temple, who scored 20 and was 5 for 9 from long range. Sacramento finished 11 of 32 on 3s.
The Rockets were shooting 61.3 percent by the close of the third quarter, including 58.1 percent on 3s while carrying a 102-67 lead into the final period. Houston shot 13 for 20 in building an 11-point lead entering the second quarter and closed the first shooting an identical 12 for 19 from inside the arc and also behind it.
