CHICAGO -- James Harden exploded for 25 points and the Houston Rockets got the best of the reigning NBA champions San Antonio Spurs, 96-87, at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston.
All-Star center Dwight Howard did not play due to a forearm laceration but Houston still had more than enough firepower to secure the home win Friday night.
Isaiah Canaan came off the bench with 18 points and seven rebounds and Terrence Jones provided a lift with 11 markers and 13 boards. Trevor Ariza, who replaced Chandler Parsons in the small forward slot, finished with 11 points and nine assists.
Marco Belinelli carried much of the Spurs offense with a team-high 19. Danny Green contributed 14 and Tim Duncan registered 11 and 10 boards.
But the Spurs played poorly overall. It's something that didn't sit will with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
"We look very poor. We looked like we're not very interested. Sure, we look for our guys to kick it up a notch. We obviously don't want them to kick it down a notch," Popovich told reporters after the game.
The Rockets finished the preseason with an excellent 5-2 won-lost record while the Spurs settled at 2-5. (VTJ)
Photo: James Harden (L) is all over Danny Green of the Spurs Friday night. Houston rocked San Antonio, 96-87.
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