San Antonio Spurs vs Houston Rockets Box Score on Dec 15, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 16, 2017

HOUSTON -- Chris Paul delivered an impressive two-way performance and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 124-109, wire-to-wire win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at Toyota Center.

Paul finished with 28 points, eight assists and seven steals as the Rockets (23-4), who are unbeaten with Paul in the lineup this season, extended their winning streak to 12 games in large part courtesy of an early 3-point barrage.

The Spurs surrendered more than 11 3-points for just the fourth time this season. The Rockets were 18 of 50 from behind the arc, including 6 for 14 in the first quarter while darting to a 15-point lead.

All five Rockets starters scored in double figures, with James Harden adding 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Clint Capela (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Ryan Anderson (12 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Rockets, who are 13-0 with Paul in the lineup.

Anderson and Trevor Ariza sandwiched 3s around five free throws as Houston extended to a double-digit lead in the first quarter. That was part of a 17-4 run for the Rockets, who led 31-16 entering the second quarter and by as many as 28 points at 51-23 midway through that quarter.

The Spurs (19-10) pulled their starters in the third quarter, with LaMarcus Aldridge (16 points) leading that group with just 27 minutes. Kawhi Leonard, playing in just his second game after a quad injury, did not play after the break after scoring 12 points in the first half.

San Antonio missed its first 10 3-pointers before Bryn Forbes sank a corner 3 with 3:42 left in the first half. The Rockets led by 23 by that juncture, and while the Spurs' bench played valiantly in slicing the deficit to 14 in the fourth quarter, the Rockets maintained control throughout.

NOTES: With Spurs F Kawhi Leonard and Spurs G Tony Parker on minute restrictions, both will likely rest Saturday night when San Antonio hosts the Dallas Mavericks in the second game of a back-to-back. Leonard eclipsed his minutes total (16) from his season debut on Tuesday by logging 17 minutes in the first half. ... Rockets F Luc Mbah a Moute will miss two to three weeks after suffering a dislocated right shoulder on Wednesday night. An MRI the following morning revealed no significant damage. ... All five Rockets starters scored in double figures for the fifth time this season. Houston improved to 5-0 in those games.