Originally published November 3, 2014 at 9:55 PM | Page modified November 3, 2014 at 9:56 PM
Matt Slocum / AP
PHILADELPHIA - Play time is over, Houston. The Rockets are off to their best start since 1996, thanks in part to a lightweight schedule.
Up next, games against last season's NBA Finals teams - Miami and champion San Antonio - that will serve as an early season proving ground for a team with designs on playing deep into the playoffs.
James Harden had 35 points and nine rebounds and Dwight Howard added 11 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Rockets past the Philadelphia 76ers 104-93 on Monday night.
'We didn't overlook these guys and think about Miami and San Antonio,' Howard said.
Trevor Ariza made six three-pointers and scored 24 points to help Houston improve to 4-0. The Rockets made 16 of 34 three-pointers and dominated the Sixers 47-31 on the boards.
Harden made 17 of 18 free throws.
Tony Wroten Jr., a former Washington Huskies player, led the Sixers (0-4) with 20 points and had five steals. Philadelphia made 16 of 23 free throws.
'I was thrilled we shot more free throws as a team than James Harden,' a sarcastic Sixers coach Brett Brown said.
Philadelphia has been competitive for the first three quarters in games and has hit a wall in the fourth. The Sixers haven't been talented or deep enough to pull off a victory against a contender such as Houston.
'Those guys, they've got a chance one day to be a good team,' Howard said.
NOTES
* Center Brook Lopez scored 18 points in his first regular-season game in more than 10 months, and the host Brooklyn Nets routed the injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder 116-85.
Lopez broke his right foot Dec. 20.
The Thunder, already without All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, lost yet another player to injury as guard Andre Roberson sprained his left foot.
* Marc Gasol scored 16 points as host Memphis beat New Orleans 93-81. The Grizzlies are off to a franchise-best 4-0 start.
* Chandler Parsons scored 29 points to help host Dallas beat Boston 118-113.
Ex-Sonic Jeff Green led the Celtics with 35 points and Avery Bradley, a former standout at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, added a career-high 32.
* Darren Collison scored 21 points as visiting Sacramento beat the Denver Nuggets 110-105. The Kings are 3-1 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
* The league fined Minnesota guard Kevin Martin $15,000 for what it called an 'obscene gesture' during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
After making a three-pointer, Martin headed back to the other end of the court, cupped his hands and held them just below his waist.
The dance move was popularized by former Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell, who used to do it after big shots until the league started issuing fines to curb it.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, November 3, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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