The short-handed Rockets lost their first game of the season, falling 98-87 to the still undefeated Golden State Warriors.
Dwight Howard was a last minute scratch with flu-like symptoms, joining the previously announced Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones to leave only two of the Rockets’ regular starting five available for the game. The Rockets have used five different starting lineups in their seven games so far this season with nine different players getting at least one start.
The starters’ absence was felt immediately has the Rockets missed their first seven consecutive field goal attempts of the game. On one possession, Houston grabbed three offensive rebounds, but still failed to score a bucket.
“We should be in better sync than that," said Kevin McHale after the game.
"We didn't have much pace in the game tonight. I thought they (Warriors) were more dedicated and pushed when they had chances. We didn't get many layups, we didn't get breakouts. We didn't get the stuff we like to try and get. No matter who is playing for us, we have to play with better pace.”
Isaiah Canaan (getting his fourth start) got the Rockets going with a deep three-pointer and an easy fast break layup. Canaan scored 10 in the first quarter and gave the Rockets the lead after the rough start.
James Harden heated up in the second, scoring nine of his 20 points in the quarter. Donatas Motiejunas came off the bench for 12 points in the quarter, including a buzzer-beating three to give Houston a 56-48 lead at halftime.
Golden State opened the second half with a furious 22-4 run over the first 6:58 of the third quarter. The Rockets only hit two of their first 15 shots in the third and watched their six-point halftime lead turn into a 10-point deficit in just over half a quarter.
“They just took it to us in the third quarter,” said Jason Terry. “It looked like we ran out of gas a little bit. The shots didn’t fall and that affected our defense.”
Coming into the game, the Rockets led the NBA in 3PTM (13.5) but could not get the long ball to fall tonight. Houston went 1-12 3PTM in the third and entered the fourth quarter trailing for the first time this season.
Isaiah Canaan continued to make the most of his increased playing time, hitting clutch shots as the Rockets rallied to tie the game in the fourth. Canaan finished with a career-high 21 points.
But in the stretch, the Rockets just couldn’t get shots to fall. They attempted a single game league-high 42 threes, but only 10 of them fell (24%). Andrew Bogut took advantage of Howard’s absence, grabbing 18 rebounds and Stephen Curry hit multiple dagger threes en route to 34 points and the win.
“We lost, but we got so many positives out of the loss,” said James Harden. “Starting with our defense and Isaiah has obviously been playing really well. He made some big shots. So we’re just going to take that, watch some film and get better.”
The Rockets next head to Mexico City on Wednesday to play the Minnesota Timberwolves.