Goran Dragic on song as Houston Rockets edge out New Jersey Nets 112 – 106 – NBA Recap
On Saturday Houston Rockets improved to 22-19 in the current NBA season after edging out New Jersey Nets 112-106 after a closely contested game here at Prudential Center.
The game went down to the wire as Houston hit 56.1% and Nets 53.1% from the floor, despite the fact both teams competed without their starting point guards as Kyle Lowry was suffering from fever and Deron Williams was healing from a strained calf.
Rockets were paced by Goran Dragic as he netted a team high 23 points while reserve Courtney Lee had 17. Chandler Parsons poured in 16 and Samuel Dalembert along with Chase Budinger chipped in with 15 apiece. Forward Luis Scola recorded 12 points in his team’s victory.
Nets had 6 players in double figure as well but that couldn’t suffice to avert the inevitable defeat.
Gerald Green stole the show with a picturesque windmill dunk in the 3rd frame; he also tallied a game high 26 points coming off the bench.
Green, who won the 2007 slam dunk competition, was really excited after his performance.
"I caught it and I was thinking that I was high enough to windmill it, I usually do that pre-warmup or practice. Teammates tell me, `Next time you dunk, try to do something nasty.' I'm just glad it went in”.
MarShon Brooks poured in 23 and Jordan Farmar netted 18 points. Anthony Morrow chipped in with 12 points while Kris Humphries and Sheldon Williams recorded 10 apiece.
Rockets took an early 14-7 lead in the opening frame and stretched it down to 29-21 by the end of 1st quarter.
They remained in control of the game in the 2nd period as deep through the stanza they had claimed a 51 – 44 advantage; they converted it into a double digit 59-49 lead after reeling an 8-5 run at the end of 1st half.
Things changed in the 3rd period as Nets shifted gears and shaved off the double digit lead to 73-70 with 10 unanswered points, midway through the frame. After some back and forth Houston capped off the segment with a 1 point 84-83 lead.
New Jersey shifted places with the visitors early in the 4th with a 10-4 run. However, Houston clawed that off and tied the scores at 95 each with a 7-2 spurt midway through the frame.
The game remained tight afterwards and with 02:06 in hand Nets were ahead with a fragile 106-105 lead. They then however went ice cold and Rockets came up with a flurry of freebies to bank a 112-106 victory.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale was jubilant over the sensational victory.
"It was a h**l of a game. It was kind of like a good old-fashioned shootout; everyone was making shots. We needed a win. ... We had a lot of bad taste in our mouth coming into this game, and we found a way to win."
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