Pelicans 88 - 90 Rockets
Final - OT
  for this game

Rockets aim to move above .500 against reeling Hornets

Jan 19, 2012 - 3:43 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets will aim to climb above .500 for the first time this season when they resume a three-game homestand by hosting the struggling New Orleans Hornets.

The Rockets won the opener of the residency and their fourth straight overall Tuesday when Samuel Dalembert continued his stellar play with 14 points and 12 rebounds lifting Houston past the Detroit Pistons, 97-80.

The veteran center, who was signed on Christmas Day, has averaged a double- double of 15.3 points and 11.8 rebounds, while shooting over 69 percent from the floor during the Rockets' current run.

"He's just playing wonderful basketball for us right now," coach Kevin McHale said.

Luis Scola added 14 points and five rebounds against Detroit for the Rockets, who improved to an impressive 5-1 in Space City.

"It's awesome," said Kyle Lowry, who had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. "It was a goal of ours [to get back to .500] and now we just have to build off it."

Patrick Patterson ended with 12 points for Houston, which also regained the services of Courtney Lee. The guard returned to the lineup after sitting out eight games with a right calf strain and had six points off the bench. Meanwhile, Goran Dragic and Kevin Martin also reached double figures for the Rockets with 11 points apiece.

New Orleans has hit the skids and hit them hard, dropping its fifth straight contest, a 93-87 setback to Memphis, in the Big Easy on Wednesday.

Jarrett Jack netted 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to keep the Hornets within striking distance, but it wasn't enough to snap their slide.

Trevor Ariza and Jason Smith totaled 18 and 14 points, respectively, for New Orleans.

"Jarrett Jack was big in the fourth quarter," Ariza said. "He made some tough shots, but we couldn't come through in the end."

The Rockets have lost six of their last seven games with the Hornets but with Chris Paul in Los Angeles and David West in Indiana, this New Orleans team is far different from the one Houston has struggled with.






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