Houston, TX (Sports Network) - James Harden notched his first-career triple-
double to lead the Houston Rockets to a 109-95 win over the Charlotte Bobcats
at Toyota Center.
Harden finished with 21 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. Chandler Parsons
scored 24 points and pulled down 10 boards and Patrick Patterson scored 24
points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter, for the Rockets, winners in
four of their last five.
Omer Asik added 19 points and 15 rebounds in the triumph.
Kemba Walker scored 24 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 points and six
assists for the Bobcats, losers in three straight and six of their last seven
overall.
Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left in the fourth quarter after
suffering a head and neck injury following a collision with teammate
Jeff Taylor.
Kidd-Gilchrist was injured while attempting to block Toney Douglas'
fastbreak layup. Kidd-Gilchrist was hit in the head and neck area from
behind by the hip of Taylor, who also attempted to block Douglas on the play.
Kidd-Gilchrist, who was selected second overall in the 2012 NBA Draft,
remained on the ground for several minutes before being removed from the court
on a stretcher and was later taken to a local hospital in an ambulance.
Houston held a slim, 79-77 lead entering the final frame, but the Bobcats used
an 11-4 run to go up 88-83 with 8:38 left.
The Rockets, though, countered with a 16-11 swing to take a 99-93 lead with
just over four minutes left.
The Bobcats would score just two points the rest of the way.
Houston led 32-27 after the first period and took a 62-51 lead into the break.
Charlotte outscored the Rockets, 26-17, in the third period to pull within
79-77.
GAME NOTES:
Houston outscored Charlotte, 58-32, in the paint ... The Rockets scored 21
points off of 13 Bobcats turnovers ... Harden set a career-high with 11
rebounds ... Charlotte's Gerald Henderson and Jeff Taylor scored 15 points
apiece in the setback.
The Sports Network