NBA: James Harden scores 36 as Houston Rockets rout Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Glenn Robinson III (22) defends during the second quarter at Toyota Centre on Nov 6, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS/USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The Houston Rockets rolled over the injury-riddled Golden State Warriors 129-112 on Wednesday (Nov 6), sending last season's NBA finalists to their sixth defeat in their past eight games.

James Harden finished with 36 points and 13 assists and shot six of 16 from beyond the arc for the host Rockets in front of a crowd of 18,000 at the Toyota Centre arena.

He has now shot 13 of 32 from three-point range in his last two games after shooting just 17 of 79 in his first six games of the new season.

The contest was expected to be a high-scoring affair as the Rockets and Warriors are 29th and 28th in the NBA in points allowed. The Rockets give up an average of 123 points per game and the Warriors 120. Neither team have been able to hold their opponent to under triple digits so far this year.

The line-up the Warriors used on Wednesday was a shadow of the team that reached the NBA Finals last season where they lost to the Toronto Raptors. Even before Stephen Curry broke his hand recently they were already reeling from a long term injury to Klay Thompson and the loss of Kevin Durant.

Against the Rockets, Golden State was also without D'Angelo Russell (sprained right ankle) and Draymond Green (injured finger) for a third straight game.

Russell Westbrook had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. P.J. Tucker had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Clint Capela added 19 points and 16 rebounds, and Austin Rivers was four for four from three with 12 points.

Alec Burks led Golden State with 28 points. Eric Paschall had 19 points, and Glenn Robinson added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Elsewhere, Pascal Siakam had 23 points and 13 rebounds, Kyle Lowry scored 24 and the reigning NBA champions Raptors outduelled the Sacramento Kings 124-120.

Serge Ibaka scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and OG Anunoby had a season-high 18 as the Raptors improved to 4-0 at home this season.

Lowry has scored 20 or more six times in Toronto's first seven games. Marc Gasol each scored a season high 12 for Toronto.

Harrison Barnes had 26 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 13 of his 22 in the fourth quarter and Buddy Hield added 21 as the Kings had their two-game winning streak halted.

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