Chris Paul’s 31 Points Lift Rockets To Victory Over Hornets, 11th Straight Win

Chris Paul scored a career-high 31 points and James Harden added 21 as the Houston Rockets stretched their NBA-best winning streak to 11 games with a 108-96 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

Rockets vs. Hornets game score

Houston has won 17 of its last 18 games to improve to 22-4, the best record in the league.

The Rockets led by one late in the first before scoring 25 consecutive points over the end of that period and the beginning of the second to lead 49-23 and then easily race to victory.

Dwight Howard matched a season high with 26 points and had 18 rebounds and three blocks as the Hornets continued to struggle on the road, where they’ve lost nine of ten going back to Oct. 30.

The Rockets had a 14-point lead at halftime (63-49) and used a 9-2 run, with five points from Harden, to open the third quarter.

Nicolas Batum returned for Charlotte after missing the last game with a sore left elbow. He recorded nine points and nine rebounds. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston’s Trevor Ariza played despite dealing with a sore left foot. He had 13 points and six rebounds. Luc Mbah a Moute injured his left shoulder crashing to the court after a shot just before halftime and didn’t return. Paul added 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Paul admitted he tries to be more aggressive when he’s without Harden.

”I sort of control the pace with that group,” he said. ”Early in the game it’s both me and James and we both pick our spots. With that second unit I sort of dictate the tempo. So I just take whatever’s there.”

The Hornets next host Miami on Friday night, when the Rockets host San Antonio.

In other NBA news, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Pacers 100-95 on Wednesday in Paul George’s first game back in Indiana since he joined the Thunder in the offseason. The four-time All-Star forward — who played his first seven seasons with the Pacers — struggled: he sunk two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining, went 3 of 14 from the field, 2 of 7 on 3-pointers, and added two rebounds and four turnovers.

PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 16: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 16, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets defeated the Suns 142-116. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)