Houston Rockets Strong Arm Cleveland Cavaliers 105-93

The Houston Rockets are still standing proudly after going past the halfway point of this past road trip.

It was a tough night and a loss for the Rockets as they took on the Chicago Bulls Monday night.

They were actually in the game most of the way but it was a 16-point 4th quarter that ultimately was the team’s demise.

Tom Thibadeaux was able to formulate a strategy to take James Harden out of the equation and this certainly caught the team off-guard provided that he’s relied upon when it’s cruch time.

This game was totally uncharacteristic of what the Rockets look like in close games like those — they were only able to get to the line five times.

That’s right, five times.

Jan 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Rockets head coach

Kevin McHale

talks with guard

Jason Terry

(31) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Rockets won 105-93. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Harden was 3-for-3 — Dwight Howard and Jason Terry missed their respective, lone trips to the line.

The team even had 62 points in the paint and they still weren’t able to get that win!

That was just hard to watch but there are just some wins that can’t be explained.

Anyway, let’s fast-forward to tonight.

The Rockets really needed to take advantage of the LeBron-less Cleveland Cavaliers and they certainly were able to do so.

The team also added some help to their back court yesterday by acquiring guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith.

Smith was active tonight but was largely ineffective in 17 minutes of action. Shumpert will likely be out a minimum of two weeks with a dislocated left shoulder that he injured last month.

Things were tight right from the opening tip with the margin of lead not being more than five points as each team jockeyed for position.

It was all Kyrie Irving early-in with him being able provide seven quick points of offense with a jumper, free throws off a Patrick Beverley foul and a three-pointer with 6:20 left in the 1st quarter.

Jan 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard

Kyrie Irving

(2) shoots over Houston Rockets guard

Patrick Beverley

(2) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Rockets won 105-93. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Rockets knocked down three three-balls to keep themselves in the game with one each coming from Harden, Terry and Trevor Ariza.

After holding a six-point lead with 34.2 seconds left in the 1st, James Jones, a three-pointer specialist, hit one with 15.3 seconds left cutting the Rockets lead to three. Rockets 26, Cavs 23

The 2nd quarter was another tussle as the Rockets pushed the lead up by six points with a Kostas Papanikolaou three with 9:21 left in the first half.

Then Shawn Marion answered with a power dunk, along with two jumpers by Irving and one by Mike Miller to find themselves taking the lead 36-35 with 6:21 left in the 2nd half.

Ariza was really feeling it for stretch and it was good to see him get his stroke back.

It was badly needed.

His back-to-back threes along with Harden’s jumper with a mix of free throws kept the Rockets right there with the Cavs leading by one at the half. Rockets 49, Cavs 48

Irving was shooting out of his mind and already had 23 points to his credit!

The third quarter still remained as tight as a drum — the Cavs attempted to pull away by four with a Kevin Love lay-in but the Rockets answered abruptly. Cavs 61, Rockets 57

That was with a Donatas Motiejunas tip-in and Beverley three-pointer after Irving was successfully able to get two points off a drive to the bucket. Cavs 63, Rockets 62

Jan 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward

Kevin Love

(0) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Cavs ended the third quarter on top with leading by one with the score being 74-73.

Harden had already amassed seven assists but his six turnovers marred any statistical advantage he would’ve like had over the Cavs.

The 4th quarter was when Rockets worked to put the Cavs away and it was the quarter of D12, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer. They assisted in the Rockets outscoring the Cavs 32-19.

Howard slammed the ball home, putting the Rockets up three after a Smith runner to bank it in! Rockets 77, Cavs 74

After Howard picked up his third foul of the game off Tristan Thompson, he sunk both free throws to tie the game at 77-all.

On the next possession, Howard not only put the ball back in but threw another earth-shattering dunk putting the Rockets up 79-77.

After Howard got through with all of the dunking he did — he did have one more that was the start of a 8-0 run — Brewer hit two pivotal threes to push the Rox lead by nine, their largest of the game. Rockets 88, Cavs 79

Jan 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Josh Smith

(5) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward

Tristan Thompson

(13) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Rockets won 105-93. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

And it was an amazing turn of events that led to that first Brewer three.

Smith had a beautiful block on Irving, causing Terry to snag the rebound to get to Brewer for the score.

It was seamless.

After Matthew Dellavedova hit a three to cut the Rockets lead to six, Terry, Smith and Harden all worked together to keep the Cavs at bay and they’d get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

The Rockets could’ve taken even more advantage of their free throw opportunities but they did what was needed to be done.

Brewer knocked down two as well as Harden and Howard hit a set down the stretch to put the Rockets up for good. Smith missed on both of his opportunities. Final Score: Rockets 105, Cavs 93

Harden struggled from the field, shooting 6-for-18 but still managed to find ways to score — 7-for-7 FT — still being the leading scorer with 21 points. He also chipped in nine assists, seven rebounds and seven oopsies…uh…turnovers.

Howard owned the paint tonight to the point where it was a high level of thievery. He had 19 boards to go along with 17 points.

Our bench-bolsters in Smith and Brewer were tremendous tonight!

Smith had 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks while Brewer had 12 points, three assists and two steals. Each played 25 and 20 minutes respectively.

Thank goodness the Rockets were able to limit Irving to just 15 second-half points which was definitely a key to the win.

On to the next one — the Rockets will take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night in the back-to-back.