Rockets, Warriors aim for 3-point mark
OAKLAND, Calif. — Get out your erasers, NBA historians. The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors could be shooting for a record when they meet for the first time this season Thursday night.
The Rockets will put their streak of having made at least 10 3-pointers in 17 straight games on the line against a team that owned the NBA perimeter last year.
Houston’s James Harden (55), Eric Gordon (55) and Trevor Ariza (52) all rank among the Top 10 this season in 3-pointers made, and Ryan Anderson (45) isn’t far outside the group, lifting the Rockets (13.8 per game) into a tie with Cleveland for the team lead.
Both are attempting to unseat the Warriors as the reigning 3-point kings. Golden State (13.1) easily outdistanced the field in 3-point success last year.
Along the way, the Warriors (21) combined with the Dallas Mavericks (18) to set an NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a game (39) on March 25, 2016.
The Warriors and Rockets get their first crack at bettering that mark this season on Thursday night.
Houston has moved ahead of Golden State in the category this season by shooting more often from 3-point distance and doing it with greater accuracy.
In their first season under coach Mike D’Antoni, the Rockets have increased their 3-point attempts from 30.9 per game to 36.6, and their percentage of success from 34.7 to 37.8.
Other than embracing the up-tempo style…