Heat on Saturday

HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets were so bad on Friday night that coach Kevin McHale talked about retiring. Roberto Alomar Jersey .A day later, McHale felt much better.James Harden scored 28 points, Dwight Howard added 23 and the Rockets rolled to a 115-79 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday night, rebounding quite nicely from their most lopsided loss of the season.What a difference a night makes, McHale said. We played well. As bad as we were last night, we moved the ball pretty well tonight.McHale said his team was terrible in a 111-83 loss at New Orleans on Friday night. But the Rockets used a 19-point second quarter from Howard to build a double-digit lead against Miami, and then put together a big run in the third before coasting to their biggest win of the season.The effort and the energy was just a little bit different, Howard said. I dont know what happened in that game (Friday night), but it happened ... weve got to make sure that it doesnt happen again.Houstons starters were benched early in the third quarter against New Orleans by a disgusted McHale. On Saturday night, they spent the fourth quarter on the bench with the Rockets leading by 34 after three.Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh scored 15 apiece for Miami, which has lost four in a row.Were trying to get our collective mental toughness together and we havent been able to do it and tonight was a big example of that, coach Erik Spoelstra said. Weve talked about it in every single way and we simply have to do better and our guys understand that.Bosh seemed frustrated with questions about why the Heat are struggling so much lately.Im not trying to figure things out, Bosh said. Im just trying to win a game and trying to stop answering all these questions.Josh Smith, who signed with Houston on Dec. 26, was used as a reserve after starting the previous four games, and Donatas Motiejunas started in his place. Smith brought the crowd to its feet with a one-handed dunk that made it 88-60 late in the third.The Rockets opened the third quarter with an 18-4 run to build a 79-53 lead. Howard scored the first four points of the half before Harden chipped in with six straight points.Jason Terry and Corey Brewer made back-to-back 3s to give Houston a 94-60 lead entering the fourth. The Rockets outscored Miami 33-11 in the third.Howards big second quarter was highlighted by a play when he simply slapped the ball into the basket with one hand after a missed shot by Harden. He was fouled on the basket and made the free throw to extend Houstons lead to 57-49 with less than two minutes left in the period.LEADING THE WAYTrevor Ariza led Houstons defence with six steals, tying a career high.We were embarrassed last night, Ariza said. We know were a better team that what we showed and the way weve been playing. Tonight we needed to try to turn things around. The best way to do it was to step it up on the defensive end and we did that.TIP-INSHeat: It was the 11th straight game where Wade either led or tied for the team lead in scoring, his longest such stretch since an 11-game run in 2010. ... Justin Hamilton missed the game in his recovery from a concussion.Rockets: Terrence Jones (left leg nerve inflammation) and Alexey Shved (left ankle sprain) remain out. ... Houston assigned Nick Johnson to its D-League affiliate.UP NEXTHeat: Host Brooklyn on Sunday.Rockets: Visit Chicago on Monday. Stitched Diamondbacks Jerseys . Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves to backstop the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Flames, handing Calgary its team record sixth consecutive home regulation loss. Albie Lopez Jersey . Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building.FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1. JAMES JOHNSON (Raptors): Major test tonight versus the league-leading Grizzlies. Whod have thunk it? The Griz and the Raps are the top two teams in their respective conferences in their 20th seasons. Johnson will be missed big-time. Hes played exceptionally well for the Raptors. Sound defender and rebounder and his offensive game has been both consistent and effective during the first 10 games. Lots more pressure on other spots of the roster to pick up the slack in his absence. Good test upcoming starting tonight vs. Memphis and then the improving Bucks, at the Cavs, vs. Suns, at Atlanta and then its Dallas at home before heading out West. Four of the next six at home are all against good teams. Without Johnson, they will be severely tested on the boards and with perimeter defensive matchups. Time for others to rise to the challenge. 2. HARRISON BARNES (Warriors): Has started all the games so far for coach Steve Kerr and is paying huge dividends as he continues to make nice strides. Averaging 12 ppg and five rpg while shooting 54 per cent FG and 48 per cent on three pointers. I like what Im seeing from him. Calm, aggressive, knows and accepts his role and is becoming a nice complementary piece. Guards well and has the size at the three-spot to make it difficult for guys to get easy looks. This experiment has worked out well so far. 3. IMAN SHUMPERT (Knicks): Finally healthy again and in a season filled with disappointment in NYC this is one of the major positive developments for their club. Wonderful energy guy who plays with an angry chip on his shoulder. David Peralta Jersey. Terrific on the ball defender who uses his quickness to really pressure you. His offensive game is becoming quite efficient averaging 13 ppg while shooting 52 per cent and also 52 per cent from three-point range. On a team that looks dispirited and searching for answers, one of the true right spots. 4. RYAN ANDERSON (Pelicans): Very good article in this past weeks Sports Illustrated about the sad death by suicide of Andersons fiancee. Hes battled back from that and major injury and is starting to round into form again. Watched him last night against the Kings and he was terrific with 22 points and four rebounds. Hes a really good perimeter shooter who also has a knack for getting after it on the offensive glass. Plays very hard and you cant tell a book by its cover with him. Hes quite the competitor. His team is fun to watch and theyre no longer an easy mark in the Western Conference. Always loved his game when he was with the Nets and Magic and its good to see him back on the court playing close to his level. 5. KOBE BRYANT (Lakers): He was brilliant last night against the Hawks with 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting. Loved the efficiency and willingness to share the rock with teammates. Made huge clutch/dagger-type shots with defenders draped all over him before an excited crowd. It was nice to roll back the clock and witness him at his best. It will be difficult at his age and with the weak squad he has around him to sustain it night in and night out but last night was fun to see the future Hall of Famer bring it big time. ' ' '