Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13). Photo by Mark Goldman/UPI |
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- James Harden posted another double-double with 29 points with 10 assists and forward Sam Dekker scored a career-high 30 points as the Houston Rockets cruised to a 119-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night at FedExForum.
Harden did much of his damage at the foul line, where he was 11 of 12. He finished 7 of 9 from the floor and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, three steals, and six turnovers. Dekker made 12 of 19 shots and was 6 of 11 behind the arc.
Center Marc Gasol led Memphis with 32 points.
The Rockets (34-13) led by nine points at halftime and carried a 91-72 lead into the fourth quarter. Memphis (26-20) had cut into the Rockets' third-quarter lead with an early 9-0 run to close the gap to 61-58. But they never got closer and in the fourth quarter never trailed by fewer than 12 points.
Houston shot 51.3 percent from the field and made 16 of 42 from long range for 38.1 percent. The Rockets scored 22 points off 12 Memphis turnovers.
The Grizzlies shot 37.1 percent from the floor and hit 9 of 34 from distance for 26.5 percent.
Point guard Mike Conley finished with 15 points and six assists for Memphis. Forward Chandler Parsons chipped in 12 points with four assists and power forward Zach Randolph had 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Guard Eric Gordon scored 21 points with five assists off the bench for the Rockets and Nene added 12 points and three steals.
Houston led 58-49 at halftime and was shooting 50 percent. Gasol led all first-half scoring with 17 points, Dekker had 16 points and Harden hit the break with 13 points and seven assists.
Both teams were playing the second half of back-to-backs, with Houston losing at home to Golden State Friday and the Grizzlies beating Sacramento here on Friday.
NOTES: Memphis took the first two meetings this season, winning 115-109 on Dec. 23 at home and 110-105 on Jan. 13 at Houston. ... Rockets F Ryan Anderson, who is the team's third-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game, was out with the flu Saturday. Sam Dekker took his place in the starting lineup. "He plays so hard," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. ... Grizzlies reserve G Troy Daniels, who is averaging 9.5 points per game, was out with what Memphis coach David Fizdale described as a sprained right knee. ... Grizzlies PF Zach Randolph had averaged 15.9 points and 11.1 rebounds in his last seven games and posted five doubles-doubles during that span. ... Before the game, Houston G James Harden led the NBA in win shares at 9.0 and offensive win shares at 7.0.
