Houston Rockets Outlast Miami Heat 108-91

The Houston Rockets are now the talk of the town, the flavor of the week, the top conversation at the water cooler!

Finally, it seems that a Houston team is getting some credit for the hard work that they are putting in.

The Rockets have reeled off five impressive wins — they’ve proven that they can beat the teams that they’re supposed handle and can go toe-to-toe with the good ones as well.

Taking on the Miami Heat was their first test of the season and they dutifully passed with flying colors.

It was an all-out team effort which is certainly needed to beat the talent that still remains on their LeBron-less roster of this season.

It was a game of theatrics, aerobatics and it would certainly keep any NBA fan at the edge of their seat.

There were a multitude of technical fouls called as emotions ran deep between the two teams.

The Rockets started off the game trading buckets with the Heat and that quarter was all about Dwight Howard and James Harden playing an organized game of tag to nominate who would go at the Heat next.

Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) is fouled by Miami Heat forward

Josh McRoberts

(4) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Howard vehemently threw the ball down to tie the game 17-17 with 6:51 left in the first quarter. Harden also did what he does best — stroke from the three-point line, draw fouls to get the charity stripe to keep his team in the game.

In the second quarter, Dwyane Wade hooked his way into putting his Heat up by seven points, their largest lead of the game at that point. Heat 42, Rockets 35

It’s clearly obvious that Wade was hurt last season because he’s starting to look like the Wade of old and not worrying about having to defer to The King — you know, LeBron James.

As usual, Isaiah Canaan stepped in and hit a three that was as smooth as silk and disrupted the 11-4 run the Heat had built up from the beginning to the midpoint of the 2nd quarter before the half. Heat 42, Rockets 38

The Rockets continued to stay within striking distance — Howard and Harden went to work and Trevor Ariza tied the game 49-49 with a three with 2:38 left in the half.

The Rockets ended the half being on top 57-55.

The third quarter was all about the Rockets as they started to pull away as their lead was as large as 13 points with Howard, Harden, Ariza and Patrick Beverley all making solid contributions to pour it on the Heat.

The Heat came out the 4th quarter guns a-blazing starting out with a Chris Bosh three to cut the Rockets’ lead to three. Rockets 83, Heat 80

This would be the closest the Heat would get other than by four points by a Justin Hamilton three with seven minutes left later in the 4th quarter.

The Rockets then went on a 13-0 run until it was stymied with a Howard foul on Bosh sending him to the line — he made one out of two. Rockets 103, Heat 87

Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA;Houston Rockets guard

Patrick Beverley

(2) is charged for fouling Miami Heat guard

Mario Chalmers

(15) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Canaan continued to shine along with Beverley, Ariza, capped off with Kostas Papanikolaou putting the final nail in the coffin — a three-pointer — elevating the Rox’s lead by 19 points over the Heat with 1:27 left.

The Rockets kept their poise and remained in control down the stretch beating the Heat 108-90.

The Rockets beat the Heat in every statistical category that counted — field goals (51.5 percent), three-pointers (45.9 percent), free throws (77.8 percent), rebounds (38) and assists (22).

This was an excellent all-out effort by the men in red.

Howard had has fifth consecutive double-double in as many games scoring 26 points along with 10 rebounds.

Harden dropped 25 points, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line as well as doling out 10 dimes.

Beverley took part in his first action in a few games and looked great scoring 15 points and throwing a couple of three-pointers and hard-nosed defense.

Papanikolaou played 36 minutes and although he wasn’t shooting the ball all that well, he did the little things to help the team — he had eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. His efficiency was a +15 when he was in the game.

Quite impressive.

Houston Rockets Outlast Miami Heat 108-91; Remain A Perfect 5-0

By Brian K. Patterson | Nov 5, 2014