Indiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets Box Score on Nov 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 29, 2017

HOUSTON -- James Harden mounted a scoring flurry down the stretch of the third quarter to help the Houston Rockets extend to a comfortable lead in their 118-97 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.

Harden posted 29 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

With Houston (17-4) leading 70-64, the star guard scored 13 points over the final 3:54 of the third, including three consecutive 3-pointers after starting the game 0 of 6 from behind the arc. When Harden drilled a 3-pointer with nine seconds left in the period, the Rockets secured an 89-71 lead en route to their sixth consecutive victory.

Clint Capela also posted a double-double for Houston with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Ryan Anderson fell a rebound short while scoring 19 points. Trevor Ariza chipped in 14 points, and like Harden and Anderson, finished with at least four 3-pointers, going 4 of 5 from behind the arc.

Thaddeus Young led the Pacers (12-10) with 23 points, including 11 during a short burst to open the fourth quarter. Victor Oladipo added 19 points and five assists for the Pacers.

Indiana entered play leading the NBA in 3-point percentage (.409) but made just 7 of 28 long-distance attempts. The Pacers recorded 60 points in the paint yet finished only 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Houston was 18 of 40 from deep, shooting 14 of 27 in the second half.

The Rockets grabbed the lead for good in the third quarter when Anderson nailed a 3-pointer and Ariza followed with back-to-back treys before Capela converted a transition dunk for a 67-58 advantage. The Pacers managed just four field goals over the second half of the third quarter.

NOTES: Rockets C Nene (right shoulder sprain) returned following a one-game absence and relegated C Tarik Black back to third-team status. Black has received inconsistent minutes this season, playing only when Nene is unavailable to spell Clint Capela. Nene scored one point in 10 minutes Tuesday. ... Pacers G Joe Young, a Houston native, had his No. 0 jersey retired earlier Wednesday at Jack Yates High School. With Young as the linchpin, Yates High won back-to-back state championships in 2009 and '10, including an unofficial national title the latter season. ... The Rockets made a season-low four 3-pointers in the first half yet still managed to extend their streak of games with at least 18 by making 14 following the intermission.