14 straight: Harden gets revenge as Capela, Gordon return to form

Season ends as shooters go ice cold in Paul-less Game 7: With Chris Paul out injured and the Rockets shooting just 7-of-44 from three-point range, Golden State won the decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals at Toyota Center, 101-92. James Harden and Eric Gordon scored a combined 55 points, and Clint Capela (20/9) and P.J. Tucker (14/12)kept Houston afloat with great intensity near the rim. But ultimately, shooting 15.9% from three-point range (including 27 consecutive misses at one point) was simply too much of a gap to overcome against the defending champion Warriors, who shot better than 41% from distance. Kevin Durant led Golden State with 34 points. Our postgame recap offers immediate thoughts on those angles and much more, including why the loss was so crushing; the role of subpar officiating; whether bringing back the current group is good enough to beat the Warriors in 2018-19; and how Houston could possibly take the next step by pursuing an elite free-agent-to-be like by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

39 min listen

RECAP: Harden, CP3 lead win at Denver; Capela, role players shine: With 5 wins in 7 games, are the Rockets back? Chris Paul posted his second straight game of 20+ points on 50%+ shooting, MVP James Harden (22/11) was brilliant late, and Clint Capela (24/9), PJ Tucker (+25) and James Ennis each made significant impacts in a double-digit win at Denver. #Rockets #NBA #Nuggets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

29 min listen

5 of 7: Led by Flyin' Ryan, veteran forwards bounce back in Phoenix: The Rockets (30-11) won 112-95 in Phoenix on Friday night, extending their current run to three consecutive victories and five in their last seven games — including the last six without James Harden. Our Locked on Rockets recap explores all the contributing factors to the blowout win — headlined by a bounce-back shooting night from forwards Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson. Each posted matching 18-point stat lines on 6-of-12 FG, including four made three-pointers for both players. Other highlights include P.J. Tucker's team-best +22 in the plus/minus; a monster night for Clint Capela (17 points, 16 rebounds) on the interior vs. Tyson Chandler; continued brilliance from Chris Paul (25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists on 50% FG), and how the return to form of the forwards offset a regression from Eric Gordon and Gerald Green (combined 8-of-33 from the field). #Rockets #NBA #Suns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

33 min listen

Resurgent Gordon, Capela lead way as Rockets silence Jazz with 37-8 finish: The Rockets (25-4) won their 14th straight game and 20th of their past 21 in Monday night's 120-99 home win over the Utah Jazz, punctuated by a 37-8 run to end the game. Eric Gordon led the way with a team-high 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while Clint Capela had 24 points and 20 rebounds with a plus/minus of +35 in his 35 minutes. Monday's postgame show recaps those performances and more, including a near triple-double from Chris Paul (18 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds) and the importance of the Rockets' ability to seemingly catch fire at any moment. #Rockets #NBA #Jazz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

One win away: On a gritty Game 5 victory, and CP3 medical thoughts: Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points while Chris Paul scored 18 of his 20 in the second half, leading the Rockets to a 98-94 home win over the defending champion Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and a 3-2 lead in the series. Houston has an opportunity to close out the series in Saturday night's Game 6 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Thursday's postgame show explores how the Rockets got it done despite an off-night for James Harden (19 points, but 0-of-11 from three-point range); the role of Clint Capela (12/14, 2 blocks) in keeping Houston close; and initial thoughts on the late hamstring injury to Paul and what it could mean for Game 6 and a potential Game 7. Tune in! #Rockets #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #Warriors #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Game 5: On Durant's injury and a blown opportunity: Thursday's recap of the 104-99 loss in Game 5 explores what went wrong for Houston after Kevin Durant exited with a calf injury; what KD's probable absence means for the series moving forward; and why Chris Paul and Clint Capela (6/24 FG) deserve the "blame" over James Harden (31/8, 63% FG). #Rockets #NBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

Fight night: How the Rockets' best shot wasn't enough in LA: The Rockets (30-12) had their three-game winning streak snapped by the Clippers (22-21) in Los Angeles on Monday night in a game marred by Blake Griffin's apparent intentional contact with Mike D'Antoni and a postgame skirmish between the two teams. Chris Paul led the way with 19 points (8-of-17 FG) for Houston and also posted seven assists and six rebounds in his return to Staples Center, but 60 combined points from Griffin and former Rocket Lou Williams were tough to overcome. The No. 7-seeded Clippers have now won 11 of their past 14 games, including a 19-point victory at Golden State last week, and would play the Rockets in the first round if the season ended today. Our postgame show breaks down all the key storylines, including implications of the altercation, subpar shooting from perimeter shooters like Eric Gordon and Gerald Green, and a disappointing defensive effort on the interior from Clint Capela (10 points, 7 reb by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

Harden leads weekend road sweep as No. 1 seed nears: James Harden (34/12) and Chris Paul (18/9/8) combined for 52 points and 21 assists on 50% shooting on Sunday as Houston won its fifth consecutive game with a 129-120 victory at Minnesota. Coming off Saturday's 107-101 win in New Orleans, it was an impressive showing on both ends of a road back-to-back for the Rockets (56-14) — each against probable Western Conference playoff teams. With the two wins by Houston and losses by Golden State (53-17) on Friday and Toronto (52-18) on Sunday, the Rockets now effectively have a four-game advantage (counting tiebreakers) on both teams in the race for home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs with only 12 games left to play. Harden, long considered the league's MVP frontrunner, also led the way in scoring (32/11/8) in New Orleans. Clint Capela (13/11, 3 blocks) posted another double-double on the interior against Anthony Davis, while Paul (21/8/5) and Trevor Ariza (17 points, 4-of-6 on 3 by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

39 min listen

RECAP: Harden's 58 for naught in stunning collapse vs. Brooklyn: MVP James Harden (58) set another historic scoring mark, Eric Gordon returned from an eight-game absence with 20 points (6/11 FG, +20), and the Rockets (25-19) broke the NBA record for attempted 3s. And somehow, they still lost the game. Wednesday's show explores the heartbreak of blowing an 8-point lead late in regulation, a 7-point lead late in overtime, and the possible role of Clint Capela and Chris Paul's absences in it... along with Gordon's early departure. #Rockets #NBA #Nets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

27 min listen

Matt Bullard on a record-setting win, Capela's growth, and more: James Harden (27/8/6) led the way in scoring, while Clint Capela (18/16 and 6 blocks) dominated on the interior vs. Anthony Davis as the Rockets (59-14) set a new franchise record for wins in a season with Saturday night's 114-91 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. With the win, the Rockets have won eight consecutive games and 25 of their past 26 overall. They remain effectively five games up on Golden State (54-18) and Toronto (54-19) in the race for the league's best record and home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. In Sunday's show, TV analyst Matt Bullard joins our Ben DuBose to break down Saturday's game and a range of other topics, including the growth shown by Capela against the NBA's best big men; why players from the 1993-94 championship squad are happy to see the 2017-18 Rockets break their record; and the current state of Mike D'Antoni's end-of-bench options, including the likes of Ryan by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

33 min listen

Rockets rout Lakers behind Harden, strong second unit: The Rockets (18-4) extended their streak to 13 wins in 14 games with a dominating 118-95 victory on Sunday night in Los Angeles. James Harden (36 points, 9 assists) led the way, while Chris Paul (21 points, 6 assists) and Eric Gordon (22 points, +37 in plus/minus) sparked a dominating second unit. Our Ben DuBose breaks down all the key storylines, including the implications of a new report outlining Paul's continued tight relationship with Clipper big man DeAndre Jordan. #Rockets #NBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

35 min listen

Craig Ackerman on Game 1 takeaways and Game 2 adjustments: Play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman joined us Monday for a full recap of Houston's Game 1 victory, along with a look at possible adjustments both the Rockets and Timberwolves might make for Wednesday's Game 2. MVP frontrunner James Harden (44/8) was incredible in Sunday's opener, and Clint Capela (24/12) owned the interior against Minnesota's Karl Anthony-Towns (8 points, 3-of-9 FG). But despite the dominance from Harden and Capela, the Rockets had to narrowly escape with a 104-101 win amid poor shooting from role players (outside of Harden, Houston was just 3-of-25 from three-point range) and an uncharacteristically inefficient showing from Chris Paul (5-of-14 FG, 6 turnovers, 4 assists). Is the glass half-full or half-empty after a seemingly rusty performance in Game 1, and is it reasonable to expect a bounce-back in Game 2? Ackerman offers insight on those themes and much more in Monday's show. Tune in! #Rockets #Timberw by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Sweet Sixteen: CP3 shoots Houston to NBA's longest streak: Chris Paul led the way with 25 points (5-of-6 on three-pointers) as the Rockets (50-13) won their 16th consecutive game with an impressive 122-112 road victory at Oklahoma City (37-29). Houston is now tied with Boston for the NBA's longest winning streak this season and remains ahead of the Warriors (49-14) in the race for the West's No. 1 seed. James Harden was somewhat efficient with 23 points (8-of-13 FG) and 11 assists (but 10 turnovers), while Clint Capela and Nene combined for 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting vs. Steven Adams on the interior. Our postgame show examines all the key storylines from Tuesday night, including how the Rockets made an important statement in knocking off the star-studded Thunder (led by Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony) and avenged a Christmas loss in the same building when Paul didn't play. The final segment of the show examines the intense battle for home-court ad by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

On Capela's career night, the Brandan Wright addition, and a LeBron update: Led by a massive night from Clint Capela (23 points, 25 rebounds) and a casual 28/11 showing from MVP frontrunner James Harden in only 27 minutes, the Rockets cruised past the Denver Nuggets (29-26) on Friday with a 130-104 victory at Toyota Center. The victory is the seventh straight and 11th in 12 games for the Rockets (41-13), who remain tied in the loss column with the Warriors (42-13) for the league’s best record and home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Houston holds the tiebreaker. Saturday’s postgame show examines those angles and more, including the successful return of Eric Gordon (12 points in 27 minutes, +24) from a back injury and a curious decision by Mike D’Antoni to start P.J. Tucker over Ryan Anderson at the four spot. Other topics on the show include the news of veteran big man Brandan Wright agreeing to a deal with the Rockets (17:36 on the show) after reaching a buyout with Memp by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

55 min listen

Ryan Anderson's defensive limitations on display as early deficit proves too much: Led by 38 points and 8 assists from Chris Paul, the Rockets (34-13) put up a valiant comeback after going down 21 midway through the second half at New Orleans (27-21). But ultimately, the early deficit proved a bit too large to overcome as Houston's rally came up just short in a 115-113 loss on Friday night. In our postgame recap, we explore the defensive struggles that put Houston in such a big hole, starting with the role of Ryan Anderson (0 points in 14 minutes, -20 in plus/minus) and why his continued slump over the past 24 games may be putting his long-term role into question. Other topics include encouraging signs from Paul and Eric Gordon (27 points, 10-of-15 shooting) in the comeback, as well as thoughts on the season-ending Achilles injury to the Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins (15 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) and its potential implications for Houston's playoff matchups down the road. Learn mor by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

45 min listen

RECAP: Houston splits LA back-to-back as effort remains inconsistent: In their first of two games without Chris Paul (suspension), the Rockets (1-2) lost to the Clippers on night two of a road back-to-back. James Harden (22/14), Clint Capela (24 points, 11/14 FG), and Eric Gordon (21 points, 5 3s) were strong, but bench players including Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams struggled. #Rockets #NBA #Clippers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

33 min listen

Harden shows MVP mettle as Rockets survive Game 1: It wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but James Harden and Clint Capela had just enough to to lead the top-seeded Rockets to a victory in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series with No. 8 Minnesota in the first round of the NBA's postseason. Sunday's postgame recap explores all the key storylines, led by dominance from Capela (24/12, 3 blocks, 34 minutes) vs. Karl-Anthony Towns, continued MVP excellence from Harden (44 points, 15-of-26 FG, 8 assists), and the need for better performances from Chris Paul and Houston's supporting cast of shooters (3-of-25 from deep, excluding Harden) in the days and weeks ahead. Tune in: #Rockets #NBA #Wolves #NBAPlayoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

Harden bounces back, Green secures playoff role in rout of Wizards: James Harden returned to MVP form with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists on 12-of-18 shooting as the Rockets (63-15) bounced back from a rare loss on Sunday with a 120-104 beatdown of the Washington Wizards (42-36) on Tuesday night at Toyota Center. Chris Paul returned to the lineup after a two-game absence with 8 points and 6 assists, while Clint Capela was dynamic inside with 21 points (9-of-10 FG) and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Meanwhile, Gerald Green may have secured a playoff role with 16 points (5-of-9 FG) in just 23 minutes off the bench. Tuesday's postgame recap explores those themes and more, including the importance of Harden's improved shooting after a cold stretch and what an ankle injury to Ryan Anderson could mean for the team's depth chart behind Capela at center. #Rockets #NBA #Wizards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

23 min listen

Boo Fest in Philly With Small-Game James, Adding More Incentives, and Witnessing the Birth of an All-Star by The Mismatch

72 min listen

More layups: Harden, CP3 outclass Lillard, McCollum in statement win: James Harden closed the door on the 2017-18 MVP race with a scintillating 42-point performance in Portland on 13-of-25 shooting as the Rockets (57-14) ended the Blazers' 13-game winning streak with a 115-111 victory. With the win, the Rockets effectively increased their lead over Golden State (53-18) to five games, considering the tiebreaker, for the West's No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Though Portland's backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum vowed "no easy layups" going into the game, they were substantially outplayed by Harden and Chris Paul (22/8/6). Houston's backcourt combined for 64 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists on 19-of-41 shooting, while the Portland duo combined for just 28 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds on 9-of-32 shooting. Our postgame show breaks down those storylines and much more, including the importance of Houston building even more confidence with an enorm by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

Harden, rebounding work spurs first win without Paul: Sunday's show recaps Houston's 108-101 win over the rival Spurs. Topics include brilliance by James Harden (39/10) in the clutch; better rebounding from Clint Capela (23) and PJ Tucker (16); and the importance of Mike D’Antoni’s willingness to trust new pieces (Gary Clark, +9) during Chris Paul’s absence. #Rockets #NBA #Spurs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Chris Paul's Injury, All-Star Reactions, & Power Ranking the East by Open Floor: SI's NBA Show

76 min listen

Character of Harden, Rockets shines through in gritty win vs. Bucks: James Harden played through knee pain to score a team-high 31 points in 39 minutes, while Chris Paul scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half as the Rockets (24-4) extended their winning streak to 13 games with a 115-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center. Sunday’s postgame episode breaks down all the key storylines — including the grit and desire shown by Harden, the importance of Paul coming through again in the clutch, and why every game is meaningful if the Rockets are serious about holding off the Warriors (23-6) for the West’s No. 1 seed. Sunday’s show also explores the recent injuries to Clint Capela (bruised heel) and Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder), and what impact they might have on the minutes distribution for the remainder of the rotation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

Streak ends: Harden's heroics can't rescue Rockets from early hole: In a possible NBA Finals preview, the Rockets' valiant comeback effort fell just short Friday night in a 108-105 loss in Toronto. MVP frontrunner James Harden scored 40 points on a ridiculous 15-of-22 shooting, but Kyle Lowry nearly matched him with 30 points on 10-of-14 FG and 7-of-9 from behind the arc. The loss snapped Houston's NBA-best winning streak at 17 games, as the Rockets fell to 51-14 on the season. Our postgame show breaks down the Harden-Lowry battle and all of the other the key storylines, including strength by Clint Capela (13/13) against Jonas Valanciunas, an underwhelming night from Chris Paul (13 points, 5-of-13 FG), and the sluggish early defense that allowed Toronto to race out to a 19-point lead. The third and final segment of the show explores the convergent paths of Houston and Toronto, including why many of the reasons the 2017-18 Rockets deserve the benefit of the doubt for prior playoff short by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

38 min listen

RECAP: Seven straight! Sixers swarmed by Harden, EG, Capela: The Rockets (40-25) won their 7th straight and yet another over a contender in Friday's 107-91 blowout over Philadelphia (41-25). Our recap hits the highlights, including superb defense; strong games by stars James Harden (31/10) and Clint Capela (18/9); and Eric Gordon continuing his resurgence (5/9 on 3s). #Rockets #NBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Harden, Paul will Rockets to comeback win; Gordon snaps slump: MVP frontrunner James Harden had 26 points (including 12 points in the final 3:45 minutes) and tied a career high with 17 assists as the Rockets (21-4) rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half vs. New Orleans to extend their winning streak to 10 and win for the 16th time in 17 games. Ben DuBose breaks down all the highlights, including the "will to win" shown by Harden and Chris Paul, new career highs for Clint Capela (28 points, 5 blocks), and a slump-busting night from Eric Gordon (27 points, 9-of-12 FG). #Rockets #NBA #Harden #MVP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

25 min listen

RECAP: Harden, Gordon launch Rockets in Boston: James Harden (42) and Eric Gordon (32) hit 14 three-pointers as Houston (38-25) won its fifth straight game with a big win at Boston. Our recap breaks it all down. Topics include Harden finally solving Boston’s defense; EG’s role as a key variable; more veteran steadiness in the clutch from Chris Paul (15/12) and PJ Tucker (9/8); and the team's soaring confidence after another “upside win.” #Rockets #NBA #Celtics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

RECAP: Paul returns in San Antonio as Rockets regain form: Chris Paul (14/10) returned from injury to help Houston snap its losing streak with a 136-105 rout in San Antonio. Our recap explores CP3’s impact on James Harden (23/10, 2 TOs) and Eric Gordon (26 points, 0 TOs); continued growth by Clint Capela (27/12 + 4 blocks), and the understated importance of Nene’s looming return. #Rockets #NBA #Spurs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Round 1 preview? Rockets show contending chops in rout of Clippers: LA-based Roosh Williams joins Ben on Thursday's show to dissect Houston's impressive 135-103 annihilation of the Clippers, all on the second night of a road back-to-back. Topics include peak efficiency (50%+ FG) by James Harden (31/7/7), Chris Paul (29/7), Eric Gordon (5/10 on 3s), and Clint Capela (24/15); the team's defensive turnaround; and whether the 2019 Rockets (51-28, 18-3 in last 21) have more upside than the 2018 team. #Rockets #NBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

37 min listen

4 of 6: Paul, Gordon outduel Lillard, McCollum as Houston extends Harden-less run: Chris Paul and Eric Gordon combined for 67 points Wednesday and outgunned one of the NBA's best backcourts in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (53 points combined), leading Houston to a 121-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers (22-19) at Toyota Center. It's the fourth win in six games for the Rockets (29-11), five of which have been played without James Harden. Wednesday's triumph also represents the first win by Houston against an opponent with a winning record since Harden's departure with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Oour Locked on Rockets recap explores the exploits of the veteran guards and much more — including under-the-radar contributions from Ryan Anderson and P.J. Tucker and the absurdity of the postgame controversy over Paul's final layup in the closing seconds. #Rockets #NBA #Blazers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

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14 straight: Harden gets revenge as Capela, Gordon return to form

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