NBA: Harden shows his worth as Rockets explode late

Shortly after agreeing to a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, newly-acquired swingman James Harden went out and showed he was worth every cent of that new deal. Just days after being traded to the Houston, Harden exploded for 37 points to lead the Rockets over the home team Detroit Pistons, 105-96, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) at the Palace of Auburn Hills, in both teams' season opener. Harden had been traded from the Western Conference champions Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) because he and his former team could not agree on the terms of an extension. The Thunder then opted to trade him, along with guard Daequan Cook, forward Lazar Hayward, and center Cole Aldrich to the Rockets, in exchange for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, plus draft picks. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year showed he was just as good as a starter, pouring in 37 huge points on 14-of-25 shooting, while adding six rebounds, 12 assists and four steals. Another ballyhooed offseason signing, point guard Jeremy Lin, also acquitted himself well, with 12 points, eight assists, and four steals. The Rockets trailed early in the fourth period by 11, after a score by Jonas Jerebko, 83-72, but a 13-2 run by Houston knotted things at 85-all, after a Chandler Parson put-back of a Lin miss, 7:39 left to play. Houston kept pouring it on, scoring on an 8-2 run, fueled by back-to-back Carlos Delfino treys on Harden assists to make it 97-89, 4:45 remaining. Harden then put the capper with an and-one play that made it a 10-point affair with under a minute left. Houston shot 64.7 percent from the field in the fourth, while holding Detroit to just 35.3 percent shooting. The Pistons got 15 points on 15 attempts from sophomore Brandon Knight, plus four rebounds and four assists. Center Greg Monroe added 14 points, eight boards, four assists and three steals, while Kyle Singler, a 2011 draft choice that opted to play last season overseas, scored 10 off the bench. - AMD, GMA News