MANILA, Philippines - Houston coach Kevin McHale found the right combination as the Rockets routed the Indiana Pacers, 116-96, last night in an NBA pre-season match before an enthusiastic crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
James Harden fired 21 points by going four-of-five from the field, including a pair of three-point shots and spiked it with four assists, four steals and two rebounds in just 24 minutes as the Rockets bounced back from a close 115-116 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans last Sunday in Texas.
McHale started Patrick Beverly at point guard and Terrence Jones at power forward in favor of Taiwanese-American star Jeremy Lin and Lithuanian Donatas Motiejunas.
Beverly, Lin, Jones and Motiejunas, who will play for Lithuania in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain where Gilas Pilipinas will also see action, all ended up playing solidly.
“I told Jeremy (Lin) I will alternate him with Patrick (Beverly) because I want to see what comes out of it and the synergy between D-Mo (Motiejunas) and Omri Casspi looked pretty,†he said.
Dwight Howard was held to just nine points and was saddled with fouls early, also committing four turnovers in his second game since signing a four-year, $88-million deal with Houston in the off-season.
He had 19 points and nine boards in the Rockets pre-season debut.
Filipino fans, who consider basketball a religion, got a treat as they finally witnessed the real NBA experience.
A total of 12,885 paying patrons attended the event, which is a historic first for the country.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel said the Rockets just played better.
“We arrived on the same day. We had an equal share of practice so we can’t say it’s the jetlag. The Rockets just played better than us,†said the 40-year-old Vogel.
Of all, Lin drew the loudest cheer being an Asian. Lin’s biopic titled “Linsanity†was shown at the nearby MOA cinemas more than a week back.