Rockets Race Past Raptors

Brooks and Martin make quick work of Raps, lead Houston to 116-92 win

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - Having spent altogether too much time helplessly watching a red-hot opponent repeatedly scorch the nets Saturday night, the Rockets set out to see how the other half lives on Monday.

Go figure, life is far more enjoyable when you’re the team lighting up the scoreboard and laughing as the game's final seconds tick away.

Bouncing back in the biggest way possible following their tough loss to Utah, the Rockets responded by turning the tables on Toronto, putting on an offensive clinic through the first three quarters as they raced away from the Raptors early before cruising to the finish line with a 116-92 victory.

Houston was led by what’s quickly becoming one of the most lethal backcourt combinations in the NBA. Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin scored 28 points apiece and, what’s more, did so in just about the most efficient way possible. The Rockets’ dynamic duo combined to shoot 20-of-32 (.625) from the field, while draining 9-of-17 from 3-point and land and knocking in all 7 of their free throw attempts.

Even more eye-popping: Monday’s numbers mean Martin is now averaging 31 points on 51 percent shooting over the last three games, while Brooks is posting 26 points per game on 57 percent shooting during that same stretch. For those who harbored concerns about the duo’s ability to coexist, the early returns certainly seem to indicate any such fears can be safely put aside for now.

“I knew he was good,” said Martin of his new running mate. “I never got a chance to see him play this much but he is amazing. He is a scoring point guard. Most shooting guards don't really like that but I love it, just the way he gets everything and by the end of his career he is going to be the greatest six-foot and under scorer that this game has ever seen.”

While Brooks obviously has much left to accomplish before he lives up to Martin’s bold prophecy, the point is clear: this is a duo positively bursting with potential. Their teammates see it, too.

“They’re a really tough backcourt,” said Shane Battier after the game. “They’ve proven they can put a lot of points on the board really quickly. If we can just play a little bit of defense – we don’t have to be the Bad Boys of the Pistons of the 80s or the Bulls of the 90s – we’re going to give some people some fits.”

During the middle quarters – when Houston effectively put the game away – the Rockets did exactly that. After beginning the game by letting its offense do all the heavy lifting – Houston connected on its first 10 shots from the field en route to posting 37 first quarter points – Houston limited the shorthanded Raptors (Toronto was missing Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon, and Hedo Turkoglu sat out the second half after spraining his left ankle in the second quarter) to just 37 combined points during the second and third quarters, as the Rockets’ lead ballooned to as much as 37 points during that time.

It proved to be a much-needed dose of defensive prowess for a Houston team which had experienced its fair share of deficiencies on that end of late. And the timing couldn’t be better either, as Monday marked the beginning of a crucial 6-game stretch which could prove critical to the Rockets’ playoff push.

“It’s really important,” acknowledged Battier. “We know what we’re capable of doing if we concentrate and put our mind to it. We feel like we’re pretty good offensively – we can score a lot of points, especially with Kevin and Aaron playing the way they are right now. We just have to focus and concentrate on the defensive end and we did a much better job of that tonight than we did last week. Now, against Sacramento, a similarly very good offensive team, we need to bring that same defensive intensity.”

And-1s: It was easy to overlook amid the Brooks-Martin offensive explosion, but Chuck Hayes was masterful executing Houston’s offense from the elbow Monday night. In addition to supplying his normal shut-down defense in the post, Hayes repeatedly found cutters with pinpoint passes on his way to recording a career-high 8 assists; 5 of which came in the first quarter alone as the Rockets built an early lead and never looked back... The highlight of the night was unquestionably Brooks' alley-oop to Chase Budinger, which the rookie somehow converted with one hand despite having to reach so high – and so far back – that he didn't even get a chance to look at the basket when he tipped it off the glass and in – all while getting fouled in the process, no less. Deadpanned Brooks: "That was a pretty athletic play from (Chase) – and a pretty good pass from me… Not."

QUOTES

RICK ADELMAN

Obviously I’m really pleased with the way we approached the game. The other team was shorthanded and we shot it well, we moved it well and during the second and third quarter we defended pretty well and did what we needed to do. That was a game we needed to get and now we’ve got to try to build on that on Wednesday.

(on continuing to extend the lead): That’s what we talked about. I thought there was one stage in the second quarter where we got real casual with it and turned it over two or three times unforced. We just kept talking about pushing it up, making them guard us and attacking the basket. I think it’s a combination of things if you’re going to open up a lead like that. The end of the second quarter was terrific; we made some shots, got some stops and it went from a 13 point lead to 21 in the last 3 or 4 possessions and that was crucial.

(Kevin Martin): He’s a scorer. I’ve seen him play enough to know what we have to do to get him open. He just needs to relax. He’s a very hard guy to guard, especially when he’s making shots. He and Aaron were terrific. When they’re making shots like that it really spaces the court and opens it up for everybody else, so we just have to keep working at it and the key for them is they have to do the job at the other end.

(better ball movement?): There was no doubt there was better ball movement. The thing about the way Kevin plays is he’ll take and read what they’re doing and he’ll make cuts. I think Luis got 2 or 3 open jumpers because of Kevin’s back-cuts. They respond to that and we found Luis right at the elbow all by himself. I think Chuck also caught him once when we ran some action away from him; they ran in to help and it opens it up for an open jumper on the other side. That’s what we have to keep doing is read the defense. The cutter doesn’t always have to be the guy who scores; he can lead to the opening for the other guy and I think that’s what we have to keep understanding.

AARON BROOKS

We played good together. We played as a team today. We pretty much put the game over in the third quarter and that way we didn’t have to worry about the fourth. We played good, especially on the defensive end.

I think we’re all just getting used to playing with each other. I think Kevin’s been playing pretty good, not only with his shot but also finding people when they’re open. But also on the defensive end and that led to our offense.

(Chase’s alley-oop): That was a pretty athletic play from him – and a pretty good pass from me… Not (laughs).

(chemistry with Kevin): It’s getting better. He brings a new dynamic to the team as somebody who can really score and someone we can go to at the end of the game and that’s what we needed.

SHANE BATTIER

I’m really proud of the way our guys responded after a tough game in Utah. This is a dangerous team. It helps that they didn’t have Bosh and Turkoglu got banged up early but it was nice performance.

(Kevin and Aaron): They’re tough. They’re a really tough backcourt. They’ve proven they can put a lot of points on the board really quickly. If we can just play a little bit of defense – just a little bit – we don’t have to be the Bad Boys of the Pistons of the 80s or the Bulls of the 90s, if we just play a little bit of defense we’re going to give some people some fits.

(starting this 6-game stretch with an emphatic win): It’s really important. The mere fact that we know what we’re capable of doing if we concentrate and put our mind to it. We feel like we’re pretty good offensively – we can score a lot of points, especially with Kevin and Aaron playing the way they are right now. We just have to focus and concentrate on the defensive end and we did a much better job of that tonight than we did last week. Now, against Sacramento, a similarly very good offensive team, we need to bring that same defensive intensity.

CHASE BUDINGER

I was lucky enough to get a hand on it somehow and it went in the right direction and went in. All I was trying to do was get a hand on it to tip it in the direction of the rim. I wasn’t thinking it would even be close to going in but it did.

KEVIN MARTIN

We made a point to come out and not let the last game affect us on the defensive end. We had our defensive leader back tonight so it made it a little bit easier. It’s easy to keep rolling when you’re getting stops like that.

That was the key. We got stops at the beginning of the game and got our confidence going and just went from there.

(chemistry with Aaron): It’s great. He’s an amazing player back there. He runs our offense well and he’s a system guy; you might call him a scoring point guard but he’s not just out there pounding it, so I just love playing with him in the backcourt.

(On his feeling more comfortable every game) “In the first couple of games, coming in off the bench, I was struggling just to get my feet wet but every since coach inserted me into the starting line up, I've been feeling good. There are a lot of things that go with the trade off the court, especially in mid-season. In the summertime you can pack up everything and get acquainted with the team but the main thing is basketball right now.”

(On the play of Aaron Brooks) “I knew he was good. I never got a chance to see him play this much but he is amazing. He is a scoring point guard. Most shooting guards don't really like that but I love it, just the way he gets everything and by the end of his career he is going to be the greatest six-foot and under scorer that this game has ever seen.”

DAVID ANDERSEN

(On the win) “I think it was a great win. It was a great team effort. I thought we played good defense and that's the kind of defense that we need to show to get some places and on offense we found our rhythm. We started hitting open shots and got into the flow of the game and we just started playing Rockets basketball.”

(On his game off the bench) “It's important if I can come in and give the team a little boost. I felt tonight I came in and hit some good shots and tried to help the team keep that 10 point buffer and even more going into the half. I think that on defense we need to keep that consistency there so that's one of the main things that we need to focus on.”

RAPTORS COACH JAY TRIANO

(On the game) “They came out and made shots and we just hung our heads and didn’t compete. Without Chris (Bosh) and Jose (Calderon) we knew we had to pick it up as a team and we didn’t. We have to create more of a sense of urgency. Every body took it on themselves to score and the ball just didn’t move. When three of your top four players aren’t playing, it’s very hard to win. I don’t’ see any reason to panic.”

(On the Rockets) “They were really hot. Houston caught us on the back end of a back to back and we just weren’t ready to play.”

(Teams Playoff Chances) “We are going to be in a fight for a playoff spot until the very end. It will not be very easy.”

ANDREA BARGNANI

(On the teams play) “I could say we were not ready, but I shouldn’t. We missed three players and just weren’t ready to play. With three guys out, we became very selfish, me first. We have to get back to what we were doing. We need to share the ball and talk as a team and play good defense.”

HEDO TURKOGLU

(On his ankle injury) “It’s a little sore right now. It was throbbing and I hope it’s not too bad and I can come back next game. I just couldn’t continue when I was out there.”

(On the teams play) “You can’t blame anybody because we put ourselves in this position. Maybe we were too selfish. We have to share the ball and we’ll be ok.”

(On the Rockets addition of Kevin Martin) “They really needed a scoring guy and he will help out a lot on the offensive end. He is a good fit for their system because he has played with Rick (Adelman). We’ll see. They can be an exciting team.”

JARRETT JACK

(On the teams struggle) “We are going through what every NBA team goes through with injuries. You have to step up and play well irregardless. It is rough and obviously Chris (Bosh) is the focal point of our offense and were struggling without him. We have to be competitive and give ourselves a chance to win. The last four games have been a significant step backwards.”

NOTES

Houston made its first 10 field goal attempts and never relinquished the lead in a 116-92 (+24) win over Toronto, which marked the second wire-to-wire win for the Rockets this season (2/2/10 vs. Golden State). It was also Houston’s fourth victory this season by 20 or more points.

The Rockets were 41-of-80 (.513) from the field tonight, running Houston’s record to 10-0 when shooting .500 or better this season. Houston also finished 13-of-25 (.520) from beyond the arc, giving the Rockets double digits in 3-pointers made in 17 games this season.

After recording a season-high 34 free throws made in each of its previous two games, Houston went 21-of-23 (.913) from the free throw line tonight. The Rockets have now reached at least .900 at the stripe seven times this season.

Houston handed out a season-high 33 assists tonight, surpassing its previous best of 30 helpers at Golden State (10/28/09), 30 vs. Memphis (11/11/09) and 30 at Dallas (12/18/09).

The Rockets registered 68 points (23-36 FG) over the opening two quarters tonight, setting Houston’s season high for first-half points. Houston’s previous high was 65 points (24-46 FG) in the first half vs. the L.A. Clippers (12/22/09) and 65 points (26-48 FG) in the opening half vs. Indiana (2/20/10). Overall, Houston has totaled 11 60-point halves in 2009-10.

Aaron Brooks, who registered 31 points (13-23 FG, 1-3 3FG, 4-4 FT) in the last home game vs. San Antonio (2/26/10), had 28 points (11-16 FG, 4-9 3FG), seven assists and five boards tonight. Brooks is now averaging 22.6 points (158 TP) and 7.1 assists (50 TA) over his last seven games (2/17/10-3/1/10).

Kevin Martin, who totaled 33 points (9-24 FG, 14-14 FT) vs. San Antonio (2/26/10) and 32 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 12-13 FT) at Utah (2/27/10), finished with 28 points (9-16 FG, 5-8 3FG, 5-5 FT) and four assists tonight. He came up just two points shy of recording three consecutive 30-point games for the first time since Tracy McGrady back in 2006-07 (32 on 2/21/07 vs. Miami, 37 on 2/23/07 at Atlanta and 34 on 2/25/07 at Orlando).

Chuck Hayes again topped the Rockets with a career-best eight assists and three steals tonight. His previous career high was six assists vs. Minnesota (1/13/10) and six helpers in the previous game at Utah (2/27/10). Hayes has also posted three or more steals in eight games this season.

David Andersen posted 16 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) and five rebounds, which was his 12th double-digit scoring performance of the season.

Marcus Banks led six Raptors in double-figure scoring with a season-high 15 points (5-7 FG, 4-5 FT). He also set season bests in assists (4) and steals (4).

Andrea Bargnani, who registered 25 points (9-14 FG, 5-6 3FG), seven rebounds and three blocks last year at Houston (3/3/09), had 14 points (6-17 FG, 2-4 3FG) and six rebounds tonight.

Hedo Turkoglu left this game (left ankle) and did not return. Jose Calderon, who dished out 16 assists to go along with his 10 points last season at Houston (3/3/09), was placed on the inactive list prior to this game (elbow injury).

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