BROOKLYN, NY – The Houston Rockets took advantage of the Brooklyn Nets’ non-existent defense behind Eric Gordon’s 24 points off the bench and James Harden’s 12th triple-double of the season as the Rockets rout the Nets 137-112 Sunday evening snapping their two-game losing streak.
A sold out crowd of 17,732 were in attendance at the Barclay’s Center to watch the Nets lose their tenth straight game on Taiwanese Heritage Night, where the first 10,000 fans received a
Jeremy Lin Bobblehead. Lin, the first Asian-American of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA, was listed as inactive for the game and has not played since re-injuring his left hamstring against the Charlotte Hornets last December 26.
Houston gained momentum early on as the team scored a season high 74 points in the first half. Brooklyn, the league’s worst team trailed by eight during the half until the Rockets opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run to build their lead to 20. The Nets never gained ground as they were outscored the last two quarters which sealed the victory for the visiting team.
Houston shot 51% from the field including 21-44 from the 3-point line as six players scored in double figures including Harden’s 22 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.Trevor Booker led the way with 18 points for the struggling Nets, who were without their key players Lin and Brook Lopez.
Taiwanese Heritage Night, which was sponsored by Kendra Tires, was kicked off with half time performances by the Santaizi dancers and rapper Dwagie, who collaborated with Nas and Dalai Lama. Approximately a thousand Taiwanese and Taiwanese-Americans supported the event at the Barclays Center.
Houston travels to Miami to play the Heat while Brooklyn will battle the Atlantic Division leading Toronto Raptors at home on Tuesday night.
Reported By: Tennie Sumague, Eagle News Service USA, New York Bureau
