As much as the Rockets believe they are built and excessively trained to overcome adversity, having had their share all season, they have not done it quite like this.
Their 11-point deficit against the Pelicans on Saturday did not measure up to the 20-point first-quarter hole they dug and escaped against the Trail Blazers on Thursday. But they responded with urgency and an offensive burst that was not just spectacular, but unprecedented.
The Rockets rolled through a 48-point second quarter to grab command of the game, riding that wave to a 24-point lead and a 126-112 rout of the Pelicans to push their winning streak to a season-best five games and move to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season.
The romp began when the Rockets, for a second consecutive game, had to rally back from a double-digit deficit after losing their first eight games this season when trailing by 10. That was when they were at their best.
“We have a bunch of guys who love to play basketball and they’re fighters,” Rockets forward P.J. Tucker said. “Even the games we get down … you got to expect us to come back because we got a lot of guys with a lot of pride and they’re going to fight every single night and try to win.”
Christian Wood led the Rockets with 27 points in 27 minutes, making 11 of 13 shots, playing against one of his five former teams, the first he has faced with the Rockets having had to sit out against the Pistons with a sprained ankle. He had not forgotten the road to the Rockets, though he is unlikely to avenge getting cut by the Fujian Sturgeons.
“It was definitely a little bit of a revenge game,” Wood said. “Some of the coaches are still there. Griff (executive vice president David Griffin) is still there. So, I definitely wanted to show them, you know, what they missed out on.
“I loved it here, man. I loved the fans. I loved being here. I loved playing with the team. I learned a lot working out with AD (Anthony Davis) during my time here. And coach (Alvin) Gentry gave me a chance. I felt like with that chance, I ran with it.”
As much as he excelled once the Rockets broke out of their familiar slow start, they did not win because of one player dominating. The second-quarter burst was about turning up the defense to get into the open court and then getting scoring from everywhere.
The Rockets’ 48 second-quarter points were the most in franchise history, the third most they have ever scored in any quarter. Yet, when asked about the offensive barrage, they pointed to their defense.
“It’s big time,” said guard John Wall, who had 15 points and matched his season high with nine assists. “And that’s a testament to our defense. We got out, got stops, we’re running in transition, was communicating on both ends of the floor. And that makes our team better.
“When we’re committed on the defensive end with all five guys, we’re a tough team to compete against because that gets us out in transition, lets us get pace into the game.”
When the second quarter began, the Rockets’ ball movement sizzled, but the shooting was scorching. The Rockets made 9 of 12 3-pointers in the second quarter when they made 16 of 24 shots, getting assists on 13 of those buckets while committing just two turnovers. Victor Oladipo and Wood each had 16 second-quarter points, with Oladipo needing just 6 ½ minutes. After going 5 of 5 in the second quarter on Thursday, Wood went 6 of 7, hitting a pair of 3s.
The Pelicans made just 32 percent of their shots in the second quarter after hitting 66.7 percent, including 6 of 11 3s, in the first quarter. With that, the Rockets went from an 11-point deficit to an 18-point halftime lead.
“Just being resilient, having that competitiveness as a team,” Wood said. “I think this team is competitive, a lot. We have a team full of dogs.”
The Pelicans rallied when the Rockets went cold in the third quarter, missing 11 consecutive shots. But by then, six misfiring minutes was nothing they could not handle, rolling easily again.
“I wish we were starting the games better, really,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “At least we’re fighting back. That’s one of the things I love about this group, their competitiveness. Hopefully, at some point, we won’t have to get down so much early, but we’re going to fight back.”
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Rockets get back to .500 with 48-point second quarter against Pelicans - Houston Chronicle
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