Paul, Harden's Rockets show championship heart in Game 4 rally

Harden leads weekend road sweep as No. 1 seed nears: James Harden (34/12) and Chris Paul (18/9/8) combined for 52 points and 21 assists on 50% shooting on Sunday as Houston won its fifth consecutive game with a 129-120 victory at Minnesota. Coming off Saturday's 107-101 win in New Orleans, it was an impressive showing on both ends of a road back-to-back for the Rockets (56-14) — each against probable Western Conference playoff teams. With the two wins by Houston and losses by Golden State (53-17) on Friday and Toronto (52-18) on Sunday, the Rockets now effectively have a four-game advantage (counting tiebreakers) on both teams in the race for home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs with only 12 games left to play. Harden, long considered the league's MVP frontrunner, also led the way in scoring (32/11/8) in New Orleans. Clint Capela (13/11, 3 blocks) posted another double-double on the interior against Anthony Davis, while Paul (21/8/5) and Trevor Ariza (17 points, 4-of-6 on 3 by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

39 min listen

Harden's brilliance can't offset depth woes, Durant in Game 1 loss: James Harden was spectacular with 41 points (14-of-24 FG) and 7 assists, but the Rockets' supporting cast didn't give him nearly enough help in a home Game 1 loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals is Wednesday night at Toyota Center. Chris Paul (23/11, 8-of-17 FG) and Clint Capela (12/6, 6-of-7 FG) each had moments, but ultimately Houston just didn't have enough firepower to deal with a combined 83 points on better than 50% shooting from Kevin Durant (37), Klay Thompson (28), and Steph Curry (18). Our recap explores those storylines and more, including whether Mike D'Antoni should occasionally send a second defender to Durant; how depth has suddenly become a major issue for the Rockets, with Luc Mbah a Moute, P.J. Tucker, Trevor Ariza, and others all having subpar games; and why psychology could be a tougher battle than Xs and Os heading into a must-win Game 2. #Ro by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Capela, Gordon lead division-clinching rally vs. Clippers: The Rockets (54-14) clinched the 2017-18 Southwest Division title Thursday night with a 101-96 come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, led by a big night from Clint Capela (19 points, 12 rebounds, career-high 6 blocks) on the interior against DeAndre Jordan. It's just the sixth division title in franchise history for Houston, which previously won its division in 1977, 1986, 1993, 1994, and 2015. The Rockets were down 12 midway through the third quarter, but finished the game on a 47-30 run over the final 19 minutes to take control. With the win, Houston remains two games up on the Golden State Warriors (52-16) and also holds the tiebreaker in the race for the West's No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Eric Gordon (23 points, 7-of-9 on 3s) was on fire from behind the arc, while MVP frontrunner James Harden led the Rockets in scoring with 24 points and delivered a dagger stepback jumper ov by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Harden, CP3 lead historic run in Game 4 rout at Minnesota: James Harden and Chris Paul were sensational with a combined 61 points (21-of-43 FG), leading the Rockets on an incredible 71-30 run in the middle of a 119-100 beatdown of Minnesota in Game 4 at Target Center. Houston now leads the Round 1 series at three games to one, with an opportunity to clinch it in Wednesday's Game 5 at Toyota Center. The Rockets trailed by seven points in the middle of the second quarter, but went on to score 50 points in the third quarter as part of the extended run to take command of the series. In addition to the scoring, Harden and Paul combined for 10 rebounds, nine assists, nine steals, and only two turnovers. Our postgame show breaks it all down, including the importance of Harden turning it around after an 0-for-7 start in the first quarter; the confidence the Rockets likely gained from this type of performance facing adversity on the road; and how Eric Gordon (18 points, 6-of-14 FG) and Clint Ca by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

One win away: On a gritty Game 5 victory, and CP3 medical thoughts: Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points while Chris Paul scored 18 of his 20 in the second half, leading the Rockets to a 98-94 home win over the defending champion Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and a 3-2 lead in the series. Houston has an opportunity to close out the series in Saturday night's Game 6 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Thursday's postgame show explores how the Rockets got it done despite an off-night for James Harden (19 points, but 0-of-11 from three-point range); the role of Clint Capela (12/14, 2 blocks) in keeping Houston close; and initial thoughts on the late hamstring injury to Paul and what it could mean for Game 6 and a potential Game 7. Tune in! #Rockets #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #Warriors #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Rockets secure season series from Warriors as Paul, Harden set tone: Chris Paul scored a game-high 33 points on 50% shooting, while James Harden had two MVP moments in the final 80 seconds as the Rockets (32-12) completed a stirring fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors, 116-108. The victory clinches the season series and potential tiebreaker for Houston with two wins in three games between the two teams. The Rockets have now won seven of their past 10 games coming off the five-game losing streak in late December. Our postgame show examines all the key angles, headlined by the importance of the Rockets' impressive resiliency and why their confidence against the Warriors could pay dividends in May and June. Other angles discussed include how both star Paul and Harden (22 points, 8 assists)were at their best against elite competition, even with the latter only 20 days removed from a Grade 2 hamstring strain; the importance of veteran role players by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Houston grabs NBA's best record after defeating Kings: The Rockets (44-13) defeated the Kings on Wednesday night to run their winning streak to 10 games and later moved into the West's pole position following a subsequent loss by Golden State (44-14) in Portland. If the regular season ended today, Houston would have home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Thursday's show breaks down the importance of Houston grabbing the No. 1 seed entering the extended All-Star break, with emphasis on how it bolsters the cases for James Harden as the league's MVP frontrunner and the increased desirability of the Rockets as an offseason destination for the likes of LeBron James. Other topics include a specific breakdown of the 100-91 victory over Sacramento (15:55) and how Harden (28/9/9) led the fatigued Rockets to a win without their best stuff, as well as thoughts on the relatively positive debut for Joe Johnson (9 points, 3 rebounds, 31 minutes) at Toyota Center. #Rockets #NBA #Kings #War by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

40 min listen

Streak ends: Harden's heroics can't rescue Rockets from early hole: In a possible NBA Finals preview, the Rockets' valiant comeback effort fell just short Friday night in a 108-105 loss in Toronto. MVP frontrunner James Harden scored 40 points on a ridiculous 15-of-22 shooting, but Kyle Lowry nearly matched him with 30 points on 10-of-14 FG and 7-of-9 from behind the arc. The loss snapped Houston's NBA-best winning streak at 17 games, as the Rockets fell to 51-14 on the season. Our postgame show breaks down the Harden-Lowry battle and all of the other the key storylines, including strength by Clint Capela (13/13) against Jonas Valanciunas, an underwhelming night from Chris Paul (13 points, 5-of-13 FG), and the sluggish early defense that allowed Toronto to race out to a 19-point lead. The third and final segment of the show explores the convergent paths of Houston and Toronto, including why many of the reasons the 2017-18 Rockets deserve the benefit of the doubt for prior playoff short by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

38 min listen

Game 7 set as Warriors hold serve in Game 6: James Harden (32/9/7) and Eric Gordon (19) provided scoring punch, but an onslaught from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (combined 64 points, 50% FG) was too much in Game 6 at Oracle Arena as the defending champion Warriors overcame an early double-digit deficit to win in a 115-86 romp. The winner-take-all Game 7 is set for Monday night at Toyota Center in downtown Houston. Our postgame recap explores all the key storylines, including shaky officiating; the role of Chris Paul's absence in 21 Houston turnovers and the team's limited depth; and whether CP3 will be able to play in Game 7. #Rockets #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #Warriors #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Adam Clanton on Game 4's historic context, Harden's legacy, and predictions: With the West Finals tied at two games apiece, is Houston now the series favorite with two of the final three games at home? Rockets radio network host Adam Clanton joins us to discuss that and much more, including the historic nature of the come-from-behind win over the defending champion Warriors in Tuesday’s Game 4. Other interview topics include the likely raucous environment at Toyota Center for Thursday’s pivotal Game 5; the career evolution of James Harden, who scored a game-high 30 points in the Game 4 win; Mike D’Antoni’s latest seven-man rotation; and predictions for the remainder of the series. Tune in! #Rockets #Warriors #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

35 min listen

5 of 7: Led by Flyin' Ryan, veteran forwards bounce back in Phoenix: The Rockets (30-11) won 112-95 in Phoenix on Friday night, extending their current run to three consecutive victories and five in their last seven games — including the last six without James Harden. Our Locked on Rockets recap explores all the contributing factors to the blowout win — headlined by a bounce-back shooting night from forwards Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson. Each posted matching 18-point stat lines on 6-of-12 FG, including four made three-pointers for both players. Other highlights include P.J. Tucker's team-best +22 in the plus/minus; a monster night for Clint Capela (17 points, 16 rebounds) on the interior vs. Tyson Chandler; continued brilliance from Chris Paul (25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists on 50% FG), and how the return to form of the forwards offset a regression from Eric Gordon and Gerald Green (combined 8-of-33 from the field). #Rockets #NBA #Suns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

33 min listen

Curry, Warriors flatten Rockets in discouraging Game 3 blowout: Chris Paul and James Harden (combined 12-of-32 FG) each struggled while Steph Curry (35 points, 13-of-23 FG) and Kevin Durant (25 points, 9-of-19 FG) were elite, leading Golden State to a 126-85 romp in Game 3 on Sunday night. Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, which the Warriors now lead two games to one, is Tuesday night — also at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. In our postgame recap, Ben breaks down the key takeaways from a forgettable Game 3 from the Rockets. Topics include a subpar showing from the supporting cast (Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Trevor Ariza) after a strong Game 2; continued regression from Harden (17/9, 6-of-14 FG) after a superb Game 1 (41 points, 14-of-24 FG); and possible concerns over Paul's foot after a 2-of-11 start to Game 3. #Rockets #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #Warriors #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

Harden returns, leads win over Spurs as No. 1 lead grows: James Harden returned from a one-game injury with 28 points, 6 points, and 6 assists on Monday as the Rockets dominated a Texas rival for a second consecutive night, defeating the Spurs 109-93 at Toyota Center. With the win, Houston (53-14) extends its lead for the top spot in the Western Conference to two games (plus the tiebreaker) over Golden State (51-16). Chris Paul (18 points, 9 assists, 8-of-11 FG in 23 minutes) was by far the most efficient player on the Rockets, who shot an uncharacteristic 13-of-44 (29.5%) from behind the three-point arc after playing five games in the past seven nights. But the tired legs on perimeter shots ultimately didn't matter, since the Rockets dominated San Antonio on the inside with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 50-36 edge in rebounding. Our postgame show explores those themes and much more, including the potential for a Rockets vs. Spurs matchup in the first round of the play by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Locked on Rockets — March 20 — Clutch City? Close, late execution continues to improve: For the third time in five games, the Rockets (49-22) won another close one in Monday's 125-124 triumph over Denver. We examine encouraging signs in Houston's crunch-time execution, including winning plays from James Harden, Nene, and Pat Beverley — as... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

20 min listen

Locked on Rockets — May 8 — Harden, Gordon pick up pace as Game 4 rout ties series: The Rockets tied their second-round series in Sunday night's Game 4 with a huge 125-104 win over the Spurs in Houston. We reflect on all the major storylines, including James Harden's MVP efficiency (28 points, 10-of-18 FG, 12 assists), another ironman... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

27 min listen

Harden's latest MVP night elevates Rockets in Denver: MVP frontrunner James Harden was spectacular with 41 points (55% FG, 60% on 3s, 81% FT) to go with 8 rebounds and 7 assists as the Rockets (46-13) extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 119-114 triumph at Denver on Sunday night. The Rockets are now 3-0 vs. the likely playoff-bound Nuggets (33-27) this season. Chris Paul (23/6/5) was solid in a supporting role behind Harden, while newcomer Brandan Wright flashed in his Houston debut — posting a plus/minus of +9 in 15 minutes in his first outing as Houston's backup center (Nene rested on night one of a road back-to-back). Sunday's postgame show explores those storylines and more, including the importance of taking care of business against another potential playoff opponent and why Houston's newfound rotation depth is helping unlock the best versions of veteran role players such as Ryan Anderson (8 points, 5 rebounds, +10), Trevor Ariza (14 points, 5-of-7 FG), Luc Mbah a Mout by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

4 of 6: Paul, Gordon outduel Lillard, McCollum as Houston extends Harden-less run: Chris Paul and Eric Gordon combined for 67 points Wednesday and outgunned one of the NBA's best backcourts in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (53 points combined), leading Houston to a 121-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers (22-19) at Toyota Center. It's the fourth win in six games for the Rockets (29-11), five of which have been played without James Harden. Wednesday's triumph also represents the first win by Houston against an opponent with a winning record since Harden's departure with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Oour Locked on Rockets recap explores the exploits of the veteran guards and much more — including under-the-radar contributions from Ryan Anderson and P.J. Tucker and the absurdity of the postgame controversy over Paul's final layup in the closing seconds. #Rockets #NBA #Blazers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

Rockets lose second straight with ugly second half in Detroit: The Rockets (27-11) lost their second consecutive game and seventh of nine overall with a 108-101 defeat on Saturday night against the Pistons (21-17) in Detroit. After scoring 37 points in the first quarter, Houston seemed to run out of steam in the second half with just 43 points in both quarters combined — and 17 of those 43 came in the final four minutes, when the game had already effectively been decided and Detroit eased its defensive intensity. Chris Paul led the way for Houston with 16 points (5-of-10 FG), 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, but four of his 10 attempts came in the aforementioned closing stretch. Sunday's postgame Locked on Rockets recap explores all the key storylines, including the need for Paul to be a more assertive scorer in the absence of James Harden, continued inconsistencies across the board on defense, and a another nightmarish showing from Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza, and P.J. Tucker from behind t by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

Game 4: Houston ties series behind Harden, Tucker, CP3: James Harden (38/10) was brilliant and PJ Tucker (17/10) set a tone for the tougher Rockets on defense and on the glass (50-43) as Houston won Game 4 to tie the series. Tuesday's show explores the key takeaways in what is now a best-of-three series with the two-time defending champion Warriors. #Rockets #NBA #Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

38 min listen

Craig Ackerman on Game 1 takeaways and Game 2 adjustments: Play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman joined us Monday for a full recap of Houston's Game 1 victory, along with a look at possible adjustments both the Rockets and Timberwolves might make for Wednesday's Game 2. MVP frontrunner James Harden (44/8) was incredible in Sunday's opener, and Clint Capela (24/12) owned the interior against Minnesota's Karl Anthony-Towns (8 points, 3-of-9 FG). But despite the dominance from Harden and Capela, the Rockets had to narrowly escape with a 104-101 win amid poor shooting from role players (outside of Harden, Houston was just 3-of-25 from three-point range) and an uncharacteristically inefficient showing from Chris Paul (5-of-14 FG, 6 turnovers, 4 assists). Is the glass half-full or half-empty after a seemingly rusty performance in Game 1, and is it reasonable to expect a bounce-back in Game 2? Ackerman offers insight on those themes and much more in Monday's show. Tune in! #Rockets #Timberw by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Sweet Sixteen: CP3 shoots Houston to NBA's longest streak: Chris Paul led the way with 25 points (5-of-6 on three-pointers) as the Rockets (50-13) won their 16th consecutive game with an impressive 122-112 road victory at Oklahoma City (37-29). Houston is now tied with Boston for the NBA's longest winning streak this season and remains ahead of the Warriors (49-14) in the race for the West's No. 1 seed. James Harden was somewhat efficient with 23 points (8-of-13 FG) and 11 assists (but 10 turnovers), while Clint Capela and Nene combined for 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting vs. Steven Adams on the interior. Our postgame show examines all the key storylines from Tuesday night, including how the Rockets made an important statement in knocking off the star-studded Thunder (led by Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony) and avenged a Christmas loss in the same building when Paul didn't play. The final segment of the show examines the intense battle for home-court ad by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

Game 67: Nats Prevail in Extras by Nats Chat

38 min listen

RECAP: Harden leads rout over Cavs as minutes stabilize: James Harden (43/12/10) was in MVP form as the Rockets won for the 13th time in 16 games with Friday's 141-113 romp over Cleveland. Our recap breaks down key themes as Houston hits the midway point at 24-17, including the importance of reduced minutes for Harden (30) and PJ Tucker (26) and a hot stretch for Gary Clark (2/4 on 3s). #Rockets #NBA #MVP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Balanced effort closes out Minnesota as Capela leads way: The Rockets stayed in striking distance of Minnesota through a sluggish first half in Game 5, then broke it open again in the third quarter to win their first-round series, four games to one. Houston now awaits the winner of the Oklahoma City vs. Utah series (Jazz lead, 3-2) in the second round, which begins next week. James Harden (24/12) picked up the pace after a poor first half (5 points, 2-of-9 FG) in Wednesday's Game 5, while Clint Capela (26/15) again won the interior battle with Karl-Anthony Towns as Houston took control with a 30-15 spurt in the third quarter, headlined by strong defense. Our postgame recap examines all the key storylines, including Harden and Chris Paul (12/9) stepping up in the second half; the role of Capela in elevating Houston's ceiling; key performances from role players including Eric Gordon (19 points, 3-of-7 on 3s), Trevor Ariza (16 points, 4-of-7 on 3s), and P.J. Tucker (16 points, 4-of-7 on 3 by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Game 4 recap: Paul, Capela lift tougher Rockets to brink of West Finals: James Harden (8-of-22, 8 TOs) had an off night, but Chris Paul (27/12/6) and Clint Capela (12/15, 6 blocks) picked up the slack as the Rockets grinded out a 100-87 win in Game 4 at Salt Lake City. The victory gives Houston a 3-1 lead in the Round 2 series and puts them within one game of reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2015. Our postgame win explores all the key storylines, including brilliance from Paul and Capela; how the Rockets showed an ability to withstand an off night from their MVP that wasn't there a year ago; and how gritty veterans like P.J. Tucker, Trevor Ariza, and Luc Mbah a Moute were instrumental in allowing Mike D'Antoni to rely on his defense —rather than offense — for the two tough wins in Sale Lake City. Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Season ends as shooters go ice cold in Paul-less Game 7: With Chris Paul out injured and the Rockets shooting just 7-of-44 from three-point range, Golden State won the decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals at Toyota Center, 101-92. James Harden and Eric Gordon scored a combined 55 points, and Clint Capela (20/9) and P.J. Tucker (14/12)kept Houston afloat with great intensity near the rim. But ultimately, shooting 15.9% from three-point range (including 27 consecutive misses at one point) was simply too much of a gap to overcome against the defending champion Warriors, who shot better than 41% from distance. Kevin Durant led Golden State with 34 points. Our postgame recap offers immediate thoughts on those angles and much more, including why the loss was so crushing; the role of subpar officiating; whether bringing back the current group is good enough to beat the Warriors in 2018-19; and how Houston could possibly take the next step by pursuing an elite free-agent-to-be like by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

39 min listen

Harden shows MVP mettle as Rockets survive Game 1: It wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but James Harden and Clint Capela had just enough to to lead the top-seeded Rockets to a victory in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series with No. 8 Minnesota in the first round of the NBA's postseason. Sunday's postgame recap explores all the key storylines, led by dominance from Capela (24/12, 3 blocks, 34 minutes) vs. Karl-Anthony Towns, continued MVP excellence from Harden (44 points, 15-of-26 FG, 8 assists), and the need for better performances from Chris Paul and Houston's supporting cast of shooters (3-of-25 from deep, excluding Harden) in the days and weeks ahead. Tune in: #Rockets #NBA #Wolves #NBAPlayoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Oct. 20 — Capela, Harden show up bigly as Houston wins in Dallas: James Harden and Clint Capela are the franchise's two most important players, and they each stepped up in a big way on Wednesday night to push Houston (5-1 in the preseason) to a 106-91 win over rival Dallas. We break down Capela's clear case for the s... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

19 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Feb. 10 — Harrell, Beverley, Harden's killer instinct spark double-digit road win: With 4 wins in their last 5, are the Rockets (39-17) all the way back? We examine encouraging signs from Thursday night's double-digit win in Charlotte, including James Harden's killer instinct, continued strong play from Pat Beverley and Trevor Ariza,... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

19 min listen

They're back! Rockets crush Warriors behind stars AND rookies: The Rockets won their third in a row and sixth in eight games with a 107-86 blowout of the defending champion Warriors. Our recap breaks it down, led by big nights on both ends of the court from veteran stars (Harden, CP3, Gordon) and key contributions by rookies Isaiah Hartenstein (+27) and Gary Clark. #Rockets #NBA #Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Paul, Harden's Rockets show championship heart in Game 4 rally

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

Related podcast episodes