HOUSTON (AP)—Kevin Martin(notes) scored 34 points, Chuck Hayes(notes) got his first
career triple-double and the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors
131-112 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.
Hayes had 14 rebounds, 13 points and 11 assists for the Rockets, who
remained two games behind Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western
Conference. With the crowd cheering him on, Hayes missed several chances to get
the triple before his jumper with 6:26 left clinched it.
Courtney Lee(notes), starting for injured Chase Budinger(notes), scored 25 points and Luis
Scola(notes) added 20 for Houston.
Dorell Wright(notes) led the Warriors with 34 points, David Lee(notes) had 19 and Stephen
Curry(notes) finished with 16.
Houston hit 12 of 26 attempts from 3-point range, led by Martin’s 4-for-7
effort.
The Rockets took a 66-57 halftime lead and stretched it to 92-76 with 3:16
to go in the third quarter.
Golden State led only once at 16-15 in the first quarter and took advantage
of a 3:31 scoreless streak by Houston to tie it at 57 with 2:20 to go in the
second. Two free throws by Monta Ellis(notes), a three-point play by Lou Amundson and a
basket by Al Thornton(notes) rallied the Warriors to the tie.
Lee hit a 3-pointer to put Houston back ahead, and Martin followed with a
three-point play and a 3-pointer to keep the Rockets in the lead at
intermission.
Scola ignited the Rockets in the first quarter, scoring eight of Houston’s
first 11 points. He had 14 in the opening quarter and the Rockets took a 36-33
lead despite the fast-breaking success of Wright, who got six early points on
fast breaks and had 10 after one quarter.
Notes: Martin averaged 27.7 points in his previous three games against
Golden State. … Houston closed out its longest home stand of the season at
5-1. … The Warriors have lost six in a row in Houston and 12 of their last 13
against the Rockets. … Budinger missed the game with a sprained left ankle.
… Curry has made 126 of his last 133 free throws. He did not shoot a free
throw Wednesday night.
