The Sports Xchange
Oct 27, 2017
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- James Harden scored 27 points and Eric Gordon had 26, and the Houston Rockets went outside most of the game to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-93 on Friday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Rockets were 22 of 57 from 3-point range for 38.6 percent, making six more 3-pointers than 2-pointers on the night.
They led by just two early in the fourth quarter before pulling away emphatically and leading by as many as 16 at the end.
The Rockets (5-1) opened this three-game road trip with a 105-104 win at Philadelphia on Wednesday, when Gordon hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
Harden wound up with a triple-double with 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Rockets also got 21 points from Ryan Anderson. Anderson and Gordon each hit six 3-pointers.
The Hornets (2-3) were coming off their best performance of the season, a 110-93 win over Denver on Wednesday.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 26 points. Jeremy Lamb scored 20, and Dwight Howard had 19 points and 16 rebounds, although he was 5 of 15 from the free throw line.
The Hornets led 30-27 after one quarter. The Rockets then led by as many as 15 in the second quarter and led 56-46 at halftime. Houston led 78-74 going into the fourth quarter.
NOTES: The Rockets are 13-1 in their last 14 games against the Hornets. ... The Hornets continue to be without G Nicolas Batum (sprained left elbow), C Cody Zeller (right knee bone bruise), G Michael Carter-Williams (knee soreness), G Traveon Graham (right quad contusion) and G Julyan Stone (strained left hamstring). ... The Rockets were without F Nene Hilario (left Achilles soreness), F Trevor Ariza (left midfoot strain) and G Chris Paul (left knee). ... Hornets C Dwight Howard pulled down 16 rebounds, marking the fifth straight game he has had 15 or more rebounds, which is a franchise record. Howard came into the game second in the NBA in rebounding at 18.0, behind only Clippers C DeAndre Jordan at 18.3. ... Rockets G James Harden came into the game fifth in the NBA in scoring at 26.4 and third in assists at 9.6. ... The Rockets will close out the road trip on Saturday at Memphis. It's their second of 14 sets of back-to-backs this season. ... The Hornets will conclude a three-game home stand on Sunday against Orlando.