ASS News » Detroit Pistons 118-110 on Saturday night for

HOUSTON -- Houston is starting to make a habit of 40-point first quarters. After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games. Terrence Jones had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Rockets opened a big early lead and beat the Detroit Pistons 118-110 on Saturday night for their third win in four games. Jones finished 10 of 15 from the floor as Houston shot 50 per cent for the game, including 61 per cent in the first half. Houston scored 41 points in the first quarter and finished 11 of 33 from behind the arc. "We got a big halftime lead and didnt play well in the second half," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "We came out and really moved the ball. We had it going up and down and just did a nice job of doing what weve been talking about doing, which is attacking early, getting inside to Dwight (Howard) and making some nice passes." James Harden added 20 points and 12 assists, Patrick Beverley had 19 points and Howard chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds. Reserve Omri Casspi scored 16 points and Jordan Hamilton had 13. While saying it was an important win before the Rockets begin a stretch against some of the top teams in the NBA on Tuesday against Miami, Howard did not like the way Houston came out in the second half. "I thought we should have really put the foot on the gas," Howard said. "We didnt. We allowed them to get back into the game, and that is not what we need to do if we want to be a championship team." Rodney Stuckey had 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting off the bench, and Josh Smith added 21 points for the Pistons, who dropped their fourth straight and seventh in eight games. Andre Drummond had 16 points and 17 rebounds, Greg Monroe had 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandon Jennings chipped in 11 points and eight assists for Detroit, which shot 45 per cent from the field. "In the first half, we didnt play with the energy, enthusiasm or desire you have to play at to play against any NBA team, let alone a high-level team like Houston," Detroit interim coach John Loyer said. "We came in here, and I told our guys we played harder in practice than the first 24 minutes. We had more juice, energy running a three-man weave than we did in the first half. There are two halves to a game, and fortunately, we played a much better second half." Detroit fell four games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Drummond said the Pistons have enough time to make the playoffs. "We have enough time to do anything, and were four games out, so it comes to what we do as a team," Drummond said. "It cant be one or two people. We have to be as a collective group to want to buckle down and try to win games." Trailing 102-84 with 10:33 remaining, Detroit outscored the Rockets 13-5 over the next 4:22 to cut the lead to 10 on Smiths free throws, but Beverley nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to 16 with four minutes remaining. The Pistons closed within seven once more with a 10-1 run, capped by consecutive layups by Stuckey, but got no closer. "I think guys stopped playing a little bit because of the lead," Jones said. "We just tried to make sure that we got back to it on the defensive end to make sure we got the win. I think we did that late in the fourth." The Rockets, who never trailed, moved to 40-19. Only the 1993-94 team that started 40-15 got to 40 wins faster. Houston used a 16-2 run over a three-minute stretch of the first quarter to open a 23-6 lead on Howards two free throws 5 minutes into the game. "We did a good job of coming out with some aggression and getting some defensive stops and getting out in transition," Harden said. Houston expanded its lead to 58-33 on Howards free throw with 4:58 remaining in the first half. The Rockets led 69-46 at the break. NOTES: Houston forward Chandler Parsons missed the game with an illness. . Rockets centre Greg Smith underwent an exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday to repair a medial meniscus tear and to examine changes to ligament structures in his right knee. Smith, who has missed 36 games this season, is out indefinitely. . Drummond leads the Eastern Conference with 43 double-doubles this season Dave Schultz Jersey .com) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil and New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen were selected as the AFCs top players for Week 14 of the NFL season. Sean Couturier Jersey . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. http://www.officialflyersfanstore.com/authentic-michal-neuvirth-flyers-jersey/ . Harrison Barnes had 15 points and Reggie Bullock scored 11 for the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 ACC), who took the court for the first time without starter Dexter Strickland. The junior guard tore his right ACL last Thursday at Virginia Tech and will miss the rest of the season. Wayne Simmonds Jersey . Listen to the Rangers vs. Kings live on TSN Radio starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also stream the post-game press conferences live on TSN. Travis Konecny Jersey . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north.World No 3 Jordan Spieth blamed his short game and wedge play for a disappointing 72 after squandering a flying start to the third round of The Open. The two-time major winner carded birdies on the first, third, sixth and seventh at Royal Troon to get back to level par for the tournament after making the cut on the mark of four over par on Friday.But Spieth then bogeyed the ninth and 10th and ran up a double bogey on the 11th on his way to a one-over round and five-over-par for the tournament. Leaderboard The 145th Open With winds forecast to gust up to 30mph, tournament organisers had opted not to cut or roll the greens and moved tees forward on the eighth, 11th, 16th and 17th.I was disappointed that the tees were up on 16 and 17, Spieth said. I dont think that did anything to it. Not disappointed, I think it was unnecessary.But the one on eight is pretty cool so its under 100 yards now and youre trying to figure out what club to hit and how to hit it, where to hit it, almost where to lay up. For how strong the wind was when we were on the tee, I thought that was a great set-up. Jordan Spieths last 10 Major rounds: 0 under par rounds 18 over par And although Spieth felt he has been striking the ball well, he also felt that he was let down by other areas of his game.Im hitting the ball great, he said. Very pleased with that. I hit it well enough to shoot four or five-under easy today. On the front nine if I putt the way I should putt, my short game and wedge play has really let me down, too.But that really easily could have shot seven-under on that front nine. Get a Sky Sports Pass Dont miss The Open. Watch live on NOW TV today for ￡10.99. No contract Spieth, who missed out on the play-off at St Andrews last year by a single shot, admits that he is frustrated with his golf but insists he is getting close to his best.For me, I set the expectations high for myself, but I feel like Ive been getting a little more frustrated off the golf course than normal.dddddddddddd My game feels like its rounding into shape though, said the 22-year-old. Spieth said his ball striking has really let him down this year My ball striking has really let me down this year, and Ive been actually striking the ball better and better coming from the first round of Akron [WGC-Bridgestone Invitational] to the final round, and then this week I felt like Ive hit the ball really, really well.And as good as my putting has been this year, which is pretty much the same standard as last year, it just wasnt there this week. If its there this week and Im on the right end of the draw, Im hitting it well enough to be at or really near the lead.So although Im so far behind, its very close, and I feel confident about getting back to kind of the basics at home and getting ready for PGA. Danny Willett has endured a frustrating week Masters champion Danny Willett endured a frustrating time of his own on the difficult links course, posting a round of 74 to leave him seven-over for the tournament.Although the Yorkshireman refused to blame a sickness bug which hampered his progress this week, he admits it has taken its toll.Its just been a frustrating week, he said. Like I said, its been grand start to finish. Had a reasonable week last week practising and obviously felt sick a few days and not been able to do anything. Open on Sky Ways to watch The Open Watch The Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports - your proud new home of The Open Also See: The Open latest news Royal Troon leaderboard The Open ways to watch Golf live on Sky Sports 4 ' ' '