They may be just 3-10, but they still did something Scottie Pippen couldn't do as a Houston Rocket: Beat the Dallas Mavericks in Houston.
After getting routed twice last season by the Mavs in the Compaq Center (and damn was that ugly), the Rockets returned the favor this season, using over 53% shooting to trounce Dallas 119-99.
The win ends the Rockets 5-game slide and ups their overall record this season to 3-10.
Seven Rocket players scored in double figures, and Hakeem Olajuwon (8 points, 6 boards, 3 blocks) wasn't one of them surprisingly enough.
The Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Barkley, led the effort with a fantastic performance: 26 points and 15 caroms off the glass in 33 minutes of play. He also added a few quotes after the game, saying he finally felt like his old self and decided to simply go out and play this year (despite youngsters with cell phones in practice).
We'll believe it when we see it, but...
Barkley wasn't alone -- he got stand up performances from his mates. Most importantly, Shandon Anderson stepped up. Shandon hit all 7 of his shot attempts for 16 points, 5 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals. The Rockets needed a solid game from him to get him going.
Steve Francis also played well, hitting 7-20 shots for 17 points, 7 assists, 4 boards and 3 turnovers.
Cuttino Mobley came off the bench to score 15 points while Bryce Drew had the three-ball stroke working (finally), hitting 4-6 from long range to finish with 14 points and 4 assists in 25 minutes. Walt Williams had 10 points and 4 assists, and the Energizer Bunny Carlos Rogers had 10 points, 8 boards and a steal in 20 minutes of action.
Great game for the Rockets, who desperately needed a great game.
