Harden on song as resolute Rockets nullify the Knicks

James Harden said the Houston Rockets "put on a show" in the second half against the New York Knicks on Saturday night, but the show he was talking about surprisingly had nothing to do with Houston's potent offense.

In Houston's 117-102 victory, Harden highlighted the Rockets' third-quarter defense where the Knicks scored just 13 points, a season-low for points in a quarter both for the Knicks and Rockets opponents.

Along with Harden's 37 points and 10 assists, it was that defensive tenacity that helped the Rockets rally back from a sizable early deficit.

"We couldn't get stops," Harden said.

"They were making everything, we didn't have any pressure defensively, and we couldn't get our rhythm offensively."

The Rockets erased New York's early 22-point lead by making 18 3-pointers and getting 44 points from their bench, led by 17 from Ryan Anderson.

"That's what a team is about - the starters aren't always going to get it done," Harden said.

"The bench came in with that energy, we started trimming the deficit down, and in the second half we put on a show, defensively, especially in the third quarter."

Associated Press

(China Daily 11/27/2017 page24)