Within a few minutes, it had become clear that the Rockets were not going to get much competition from the Cavaliers. Having learned a lesson in their loss in Cleveland, and with the Cavs' defense barely rising to the level of a shout of "miss it," the mascot bear had a better chance if he got a timeout rematch with Oscar De La Hoya.
The Rockets, however, found a challenge. They took on the record books.
They did not quite collect those numbers, other than James Harden's latest barrage. But the Rockets matched their most points in a first quarter, then had their most in a half, through three quarters and in a game, blasting the Cavaliers, 141-113, Friday in Toyota Center.