James Harden makes Lakers revelation as Rockets beat Trail Blazers
JAMES HARDEN is in a buoyant mood as he prepares to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers next after securing a victory for the Houston Rockets over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Houston Rockets: Harden praises team's win against Blazers
The Rockets won 111- 103 at the Toyota Center in Texas and Harden was thrilled to give the fans a good performance.
“I think when you’re at home and you get the crowd and you start making shots, other teams turn the ball over, taking bad shots,” Harden said.
“It gets us going.”
The win takes the Rockets to 12-14 in the Western Conference and Harden believes it was important as they face the Lakers on Thursday.
Finally back at home and seemed like we were playing well
“It’s big time for us,” Harden said.
“Finally back at home and seemed like we were playing well.
“I think other than that Utah [Jazz] game, we’ve been playing, putting some really good quarters together.
“But tonight was a four quarter game and we had to just build around it.”
Houston Rockets need Trevor Ariza back with them says pundit
Harden finished the game with 29 points, four assists and a rebound and NBA veteran Chris Paul helped after he recorded his 15th career triple-double.
Paul, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, was unhappy about his some aspects of his shooting.
“The first thing I’d like to do different is make my free throws,” said Paul.
“I think that’s where, honestly, it ticked the game off. We were up two. Throws would have put us up four. They hit some step-backs.”
However Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni believes Paul set the precedent for how the game would be played.
"Today we played hard," D'Antoni said.
"You start off with Chris when he came back in there.
“He was ticked off, he was mad.
“He got into people and imposed his will, and everybody kind of took the cue from him."