The Houston Rockets romped on the back of an NBA single-game record of 26 three-pointers on Wednesday, routing the Washington Wizards 136-118.
Gary Clark's three-pointer with 2:42 to play had tied the previous mark of 25 set by the Cleveland Cavaliers against Atlanta in March 2017.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden had six three-pointers on the way to 35 points. Chris Paul added five from beyond the arc and Gerald Green and Eric Gordon made four apiece as the Rockets - who endured a rough start to the season - got back to their free-wheeling ways in a fifth straight victory.
"We're just playing better," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "When you have the right spirit, you're doing the right things, hustling, stuff falls in. If you don't, you don't make them.
"Our energy is right the last five games. We've just got to keep it there."
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said energy was a problem for the two-time defending champions in a 108-103 loss to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
Stephen Curry scored 32 points, but the Warriors shot just 40 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from three-point range.
Kevin Durant finished with 30 points, but not before making just six of 18 from the field through the first three quarters and Klay Thompson scored just 12 points, connecting on just three of 12 shots and missing all four of his three-point efforts.
"It's not surprising, honestly," Kerr said. "We're not moving the ball, we're not playing the way we've played the last few years where the ball is really moving and we're generating great shots."
Kerr noted that the Jazz, whose shooting percentage was even worse than the Warriors' at 39.8, didn't have that great of a game themselves.
"We let them off the hook a little bit," Kerr said.
"We made a lot of mistakes. We made it close with a few shots down the stretch, but we didn't really play our game."
James Harden of the Houston Rockets attempts a dunk against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday in Houston, Texas. Photo: VCG
The crowd at Houston's Toyota Center was chanting "One more three! One more three!" when Michael Carter-Williams drained the record-breaker from beyond the arc with 31.1 seconds remaining and victory assured.Gary Clark's three-pointer with 2:42 to play had tied the previous mark of 25 set by the Cleveland Cavaliers against Atlanta in March 2017.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden had six three-pointers on the way to 35 points. Chris Paul added five from beyond the arc and Gerald Green and Eric Gordon made four apiece as the Rockets - who endured a rough start to the season - got back to their free-wheeling ways in a fifth straight victory.
"We're just playing better," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "When you have the right spirit, you're doing the right things, hustling, stuff falls in. If you don't, you don't make them.
"Our energy is right the last five games. We've just got to keep it there."
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said energy was a problem for the two-time defending champions in a 108-103 loss to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
Stephen Curry scored 32 points, but the Warriors shot just 40 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from three-point range.
Kevin Durant finished with 30 points, but not before making just six of 18 from the field through the first three quarters and Klay Thompson scored just 12 points, connecting on just three of 12 shots and missing all four of his three-point efforts.
"It's not surprising, honestly," Kerr said. "We're not moving the ball, we're not playing the way we've played the last few years where the ball is really moving and we're generating great shots."
Kerr noted that the Jazz, whose shooting percentage was even worse than the Warriors' at 39.8, didn't have that great of a game themselves.
"We let them off the hook a little bit," Kerr said.
"We made a lot of mistakes. We made it close with a few shots down the stretch, but we didn't really play our game."
