Houston Rockets vs Atlanta Hawks Box Score on Nov 03, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 3, 2017

ATLANTA -- James Harden made sure that the Houston Rockets did not go a fifth straight season without a victory in Atlanta.

Harden had 29 points and 11 assists before sitting the fourth quarter as the Rockets bombed away early and often from behind the 3-point arc in a 119-104 victory over the Hawks on Friday night.

Harden was 6 of 11 from behind the arc and the Rockets (7-3) made 16 3-point shots despite cooling off in the second half after hitting 50 percent in the first half.

The Rockets had lost seven straight games overall to the Hawks and hadn't won in Atlanta since a 109-102 victory on Nov. 2, 2012.

Eric Gordon and Luc Mbah a Moute each scored 20 points for the Rockets, who took 47 of their 89 shots from behind the 3-point arc.

Kent Bazemore scored 18 points to lead the Hawks, who have lost eight straight games since a victory at Dallas in their opener. Dennis Schroder and Taurean Prince each had 16 points.

The Rockets made four of their first six 3-point attempts while taking a 20-10 lead by midway in the first quarter and led 69-51 at halftime thanks to 11-of-22 shooting from behind the arc.

Harden had 12 points in the first quarter and 21 by intermission, going 4 of 8 on treys and shooting 6 of 11 overall. He also had six first-half assists.

The Rockets shot 57.1 percent overall in the first half, making 13 of 20 two-point attempts and getting 17 points off the fast break. The 69 points were the most in a half for Houston this season.

Houston cooled off from deep in the third quarter, going 4 of 15, but led 97-76 as Harden and the other starters mostly sat the rest of the way.

Harden has had at least 20 points and seven assists in each of the Rockets' 10 games, matching his streak to start last season.

The Hawks (1-8) finished 11 of 33 from behind the arc.

NOTES: Rockets G Chris Paul, sidelined for nine games because of injured right knee, hasn't been cleared for practice, and his return is at least a couple weeks away. "Ballpark two weeks. Something like that," coach Mike D'Antoni said of Paul's potential return to the lineup. "That would be five weeks, which is about right. We're going to be cautious with him." ... Hawks G Malcolm Delaney, who sprained his right ankle Wednesday at Philadelphia, joined an Atlanta injury list that already included F Ersan Ilyasova (ankle), C Miles Plumlee (quad) and F DeAndre Bembry (wrist). ... The game against the Hawks completed a two-game road trip for the Rockets, who host Utah on Sunday. ... The Hawks play at Cleveland on Sunday before returning to Atlanta to face Boston on Monday. ... The Hawks honored outgoing Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed at halftime, retiring a jersey in his honor.