The Philippine Online Chronicles

On nights like these, the Rockets don't even seem to need Yao Ming back to have a decent low-post option.

Why would they when they already have Luis Scola?

The Houston Rockets (33-31) fed off a career game from the Argentine, 44 points on 20 of 25 shooting and 12 rebounds, as they won their consecutive games for the first time since February, beating the hapless New Jersey Nets (7-59), 116 - 108.

Scola was ably supported by Kevin Martin, who scored 20, and Aaron Brooks, who had 18 and 7 assists. In his first start since missing 7 games with a hip flexor, Trevor Ariza had a double-double of 12 rebounds and 10 assists, to go with 6 assists.

The Nets got 43 points from their starting backcourt of Devin Harris and Courtney Lee, as well as 22 points and 10 rebounds from center Brook Lopez, but it wasn't enough as New Jersey continues to find three more wins to avoid tying or surpassing the lowest win mark in the NBA, which is 9.

New Jersey actually led by as much as 8, 3:16 into the first quarter on a Courtney Lee triple, 18-26, but the Rockets went on a 13-5, including 5 from Martin, to even the score at 31-all.

The Nets would rally back to take a two-point lead going into the half on a Devin Harris lay-up, 54-55, but that would be the last it would see of the lead. Scola would begin the third canto with a lay-up and then it was Rockets all the way to the finish. 

Jarvis Hayes would bring New Jersey to within two again, at the 9:18 mark of the fourth quarter with a trey, 87-85, but Houston would score 7 unanswered, quashing the rally.

The win allowed Houston to keep its playoff dreams alive, although it would still be a tall order for this club. With 18 games left to play, they are currently 5 games behind Portland for the 8th seed in the Western Conference and would have to beat out the Memphis Grizzlies as well, who are currently ahead of the Rockets by a half game.

GAME NOTES

• The Nets shot better than the Rockets from the field (.539 - .523) and from beyond the arc (.600 - .294), but still lost.
• Houston won the fast break category (23-9) and in second chance points (27-4)
• Aaron Brooks currently has the NBA's active streak for most games with a triple made, 37. He also tied a franchise record for the same feat in this game.
• The New Jersey Nets broke ground on their new Brooklyn arena last March 11. The Barclays Center is scheduled to open in 2012.

Scores:

Houston Rockets 116 : L. Scola - 44, K. Martin - 20, A. Brooks - 18, T. Arisza - 12, S. Battier - 6, J. Hill - 5, K. Lowry - 5, D. Andersen - 4, C. Budinger - 2, C. Hayes - 0

New Jersey Nets 108 : C. Lee - 24, B. Lopez - 22, D. Harris - 19, J. Hayes - 16, T. Williams - 14, J. Boone - 5, K. Dooling - 3, K. Humphries - 3, T. Hassell - 2

Quarter Scoring

31 -  31, 54 - 55, 82 - 78, 116 - 108

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