Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

Scola sizzles as Rockets cut down Nets

Sat 13th, March 2010

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Luis Scola poured in a career-high 44 points on 20-of-25 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds, as the Houston Rockets got past the New Jersey Nets, 116-108, at the Toyota Center.

Scola topped his previous career-high of 30 for the Rockets, who have won three of their last four games.

Kevin Martin chipped in with 20 and Aaron Brooks posted 18 and seven assists as Houston has now won eight straight against the Nets.

"It's a game obviously we really needed to get," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "People look at their (Nets) record and think it should be an easy win, but they have a very good center and a very good point guard. They seem to have a feel for how they want to play. I'm just glad to get this win."

Courtney Lee paced New Jersey with 24 points, while Brook Lopez posted a double-double with 22 and 10 as the Nets (7-59) dropped their four straight. They need to win three of their final 16 games to eclipse the NBA-worst 9-73 the 76ers posted in 1972-73.

After tying the game at 17 with 5:27 left in the first quarter on a Lee pullup jumper, the Nets reeled off six straight points. The Nets led by as many as eight in the quarter at 26-18, but Houston put together a 7-0 run to end the frame as Scola tipped in a Kyle Lowery miss with 4.1 seconds left for a tie at 31.

The Rockets took the lead on a David Andersen turnaround jumper 21 seconds into the second quarter. The lead went back and forth as neither team led by more than two for most of the frame. Houston held a 54-53 advantage with 34.7 seconds left in the period, but a Devin Harris driving layup pushed the Nets to a 55-54 halftime edge.

Houston started the third on an 8-0 run after a Scola layup with 9:27 to go, but the Nets pulled within one at 64-63 on a Lee driving layup. The Rockets took their biggest lead of the period at 76-70 and finished the quarter with a 82-78 advantage.

The Rockets extended their lead to six at 87-81 on another Scola jumper, but a Jarvis Hayes triple trimmed the advantage to 87-85. Houston then took control by posting a 7-0 stretch to take a nine-point edge at 94-85 and stretched the cushion to as many as 13 before the final buzzer.

Game Notes

Harris scored 19 and dished out seven assists and Hayes netted 16 off the bench for the Nets...Houston outrebounded New Jersey 43-31...Trevor Ariza scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and six assists for the Rockets.