HOUSTON—Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry scored 21 points apiece and the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak over the Oklahoma City franchise to 11 games by beating the Thunder 105-94 Friday night.
Luis Scola added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets.
Russell Westbrook scored 33 points and Kevin Durant added 27 for the Thunder, who’ve lost nine straight games in Houston.
Westbrook and Durant scored 16 of Oklahoma City’s first 19 points in the final quarter to keep the Thunder in it, but never had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead.
Jeff Green shot 3 for 15, including 0 for 4 on 3-pointers, for Oklahoma City.
Rookie Chase Budinger scored 16 and Aaron Brooks added 11 points for the Rockets, who made 6 of 16 3-pointers.
Kyle Lowry had eight assists in less than 20 minutes, and Brooks and Ariza each had six for Houston, which finished with 26.
Westbrook had seven assists for the Thunder, who trailed 50-45 at halftime.
The Rockets hit 10 of their first 14 shots in the third quarter to push the lead to 73-59. Durant finished a fast break with a one-handed dunk a few minutes later to cut Oklahoma City’s deficit to 10, but Landry converted a three-point play to put Houston ahead 80-67.
NOTES: Thunder G Shaun Livingston scored two points in his first action of the season. ... The Rockets wore red and yellow throwback jerseys reminiscent of the uniforms they wore when they won NBA titles in 1994-95. Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks was a backup guard on the Rockets’ first championship team. “That’s a great gesture for them to do that for me,” Brooks joked before the game. ... Lowry blocked four shots, a career high.
To add a comment, please register or login.