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#3 Houston laid an egg offensively
Houston were trailing in this game right from the first quarter. They were nowhere close to their best, which we have seen all season. Harden, who scored 25 points on an inefficient shooting of 16.6% on 3's, was kept silent through most of the game by Rudy Gay and Kyle Anderson. Eric Gordon played his Robin role to perfection scoring 18 points.
The offensive prowess of the Rockets were absent tonight as other regular performers such as Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson, Joe Johnson and Gerald Green failed to replicate the form they had shown all season. The four of them combined for a mere 20 points.
The Rockets failed defensively too. They failed to keep LaMarcus Aldridge silent, Murray exploded to the basket more than once. Rudy Gay ran riot through the heart of the Houston defense while Danny Green and Patty Mills were left completely unmarked beyond the ark.
Today game was the lowest total posted by the Rockets this season. They had shooting a field goal percentage of 46.0% throughout the season and today alone they shot only 33.8%. Beyond the ark, the numbers worsen, averaging 36.4% throughout the season and tonight they only 22.6%. Houston also fell in foul trouble as Harden picked up five fouls and so did Gordon. They both were a liability defensively towards the end of the game.
The Rockets are a well-known shooting team. Today was the third time throughout the season where they failed to register a single three-pointer in a quarter. Harden scored his first three-pointer towards the end of the three quarter but immediately picked up his fourth foul. .
