Aşık double-double helps Pelicans beat Hornets

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Aşık dunks against Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker. AP Photo

Turkish center Ömer Aşık continued his double-double performances on Nov. 4, posting 10 points and 11 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Charlotte Hornets 100-91.

Anthony Davis led the home side with 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, and for the second time in three home games, Davis was saluted with the MVP chant from the crowd.

Tyreke Evans added 16 points and 10 rebounds in New Orleans’ first victory since its season opener. Ryan Anderson scored 16 points and Austin Rivers had 12, helping the Pelicans bounce back from Nov. 2’s 93-81 loss at Memphis.

In Miami, James Harden and the unbeaten Houston Rockets continued their sizzling start to the season with a 108-91 triumph over the Miami Heat.

Harden was just one rebound shy of a triple-double, scoring 25 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who also got 26 points from Dwight Howard.

With the win the Rockets are off to their first 5-0 start since opening 6-0 during the 1996-97 season.
Chris Bosh, wooed by the Rockets as a free agent in the off-season before re-signing with the Heat - staying put despite the departure of superstar LeBron James after four seasons in Miami - had 21 points and eight rebounds for Miami, who opened the season with three straight wins.

Dwyane Wade added 19 points but it wasn’t enough to get the Heat off to their first 4-0 start since they won five straight to start the 2011-12 campaign.

In Toronto, the Oklahoma City Thunder, already reeling from injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, lost Perry Jones to a knee injury in a 100-88 NBA loss.

Jones collided with Patrick Patterson on a drive to the basket early in the third quarter and was helped back to the locker room to have his right knee examined.

Injury-hit Oklahoma City had just eight healthy players at tip-off, and Jones, who had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in July, was one of their few playmakers.

The third-year forward was forced to take on a bigger role because of injuries to reigning MVP Durant and Westbrook, and was averaging 18.5 points per game over the first four contests of the season.

Patterson’s departure, coupled with Sebastian Telfair’s late ejection, forced the Thunder to play the last two minutes with just six healthy players.

“It was an effort that I’m encouraged with,” Brooks said. “These guys are scrappy. This is all new for all of us.”