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Rockets Vs. Heat Final Score: Houston Blows Out Miami, 108-91

By Wes Goldberg

Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) is pressured by Miami Heat center Justin Hamilton (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) is pressured by Miami Heat center Justin Hamilton (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Rockets used a combination of Dwight Howard’s inside presence and some hot three-point shooting to outdo the Miami Heat Tuesday night.

91. 110. 108. 169. Final

For the Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets just present a terrible matchup that was on full display Tuesday night with the Rockets blowing out the Heat 108-91. Houston leaves Miami undefeated at 5-0, while the Heat (3-1) dropped its first game of the season.

Erik Spoelstra and the Heat will live and die with the pace-and-space system, and the Rockets with Dwight Howard in the middle and a penetrator like James Harden present a difficult test.

Howard had 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 10 rebounds. Harden nearly had a triple-double, with 25 points on 6-of-13 from the floor, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Those two performances, combined with 17 three-pointers–including five from Trevor Ariza–were just too much for the Heat.

Miami led 31-30 after the first quarter, but Houston pulled ahead and led 57-55 at the half. They committed to getting Howard his looks down low, with the Heat defending him with only Justin Hamilton, Chris Bosh and Shawne Williams because Chris Andersen was out with a rib injury.

The final score reflects the dominating performance the Rockets laid down in Miami, but the Heat had a couple of opportunities to steal the game.

The Rockets went on a 18-5 run in the third, but Miami cut the lead to six points with a 10-0 run between the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Rockets pulled away, leading by 10, but back-to-back three’s by Shabazz Napier and Justin Hamilton brought the game to 90-86.

But Houston went on a 13-0 run late in the fourth, highlighted by back-to-back three’s by Trevor Ariza, to ice the game.

Bosh had another good game despite the mismatch, with 21 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes. Dwyane Wade finished with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, two rebounds and three assists.

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