NEWS » ird and scored the tying run on a wil

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets were determined to get off to a fast start and keep the pressure on Philadelphia after seeing the 76ers rally after trailing big on several occasions this season.They executed that plan perfectly.James Harden scored 23 of his 33 points in the first quarter, and the Rockets cruised to a 115-88 win over the 76ers on Monday night.We came in, made shots and defensively really locked in and didnt give them any confidence early in the game, Harden said. Theyve had a couple of games where theyve lost down the stretch against some really good teams, especially at home. So it was important for us to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity.Harden, who posted a triple-double in his previous two games, added nine assists and seven rebounds.The Rockets had a three-point lead with five minutes left in the first quarter when Harden took over, scoring all of Houstons points in a 17-9 surge to make it 35-24. Harden, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, made a pair of 3s, all three shots after being fouled on a 3-pointer and a nifty reverse layup in that span.He made each of the eight shots he attempted in the quarter to set a career high for points in a period.The first quarter was ridiculous, Houston coach Mike DAntoni said.The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid and Ersan Ilyasova, who had 13 points apiece.Harden cooled off after his huge first quarter and didnt score in the second period, but the Rockets still had a 65-52 lead at the break.The 76ers made just five of 19 shots in the third quarter, and Houston stretched its lead to 93-68 entering the fourth.We felt like it was still in us to make this into a game, but the game got away from us, coach Brett Brown said. We saw a great player dominate the first period and we dug ourselves a hole from the beginning.Harden is off to a stellar start this season in his first season in DAntonis fast-paced offense. He has scored at least 24 points in each of Houstons first 10 games this season.TIP-INS76ers: Embiid, who returned after sitting out the last game to rest, led Philadelphia with 10 rebounds. ... Nik Stauskas scored 12 points, and Dario Saric and Gerald Henderson each had 11.Rockets: The Rockets made 17 3-pointers and have made at least 10 3s in nine straight games, which ties a franchise record. ... Nene had 13 points for his third double-digit game this season. He added a block to give him at least one in six straight games. ... Clint Capela had 13 rebounds.BLOCK PARTYThe Rockets had a season-high 10 blocks. Capela led the way with a career-high five and five other players, including Harden, had one apiece. Harden raved about the work of Capela, who took over for Dwight Howard at center this season.If he plays like that were going to be really good, Harden said.THEY SAID ITPhiladelphias Robert Covington on the struggles of the 76ers, who have won just one game: We are still trying to figure things out. A lot of guys havent played a lot of basketball together. We see a lot of what were capable of, its just a matter of time before all things come together.BEVERLEYS RETURNHouston guard Patrick Beverley is nearing a return after missing all season after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. DAntoni said he expects him to play sometime this week and there is a possibility he could make his debut as early as Thursday. DAntoni said he would start when he returns.Beverley averaged 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 71 games last season.UP NEXT76ers: Host Washington on Wednesday as the team begins a stretch of four of the next five at home.Rockets: Will make a one-game road trip to Oklahoma City on Wednesday before returning for two at home against Portland and Utah.Hydro Flask 21 Oz . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Hydro Flask Estándar Boca . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. http://www.botellashydroflask.es/botella-nino-hydro-flask.html . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Hydro Flask Boca Ancha . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Botellas Hydro Flask . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice.Sometimes it just takes one swing of the bat. The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks got a game-winning solo home run from Tim Alberts in the top of the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon, as the RedHawks beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 4-3 to sweep a three-game weekend series at Shaw Park. With the loss, the Goldeyes fell to 10-6 on the season, but remain in first place in the American Associations North Division. With the win, the RedHawks improved to 7-9 and moved to within three games of first-place Winnipeg. "They (Fargo) pitched better, played better defense and got more timely hits that we did," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "We gotta produce more offense, especially to cover mistakes. We threw a lot of anxious pitches this weekend. When you arent producing any offense, every pitch becomes so important. Its like the outcome of the game hangs on every pitch. Thats a tough way to play all the time." The Goldeyes opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Fehlandt Lentini led off with a single, went to second on a ground out, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. Fargo tied it with a Keith Brachold solo shot in the fourth and then they took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth as Todd Jennings doubled and eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk to Nic Jackson. The Goldeyes tied it at two in the bottom of the fifth as Luis Alen singlled, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Samson and scored on a double by Amos Ramon.dddddddddddd Casey Haerther hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to give the Goldeyes a 3-2 advantage, but in the top of the seventh, the RedHawks did what the RedHawks always seem to do. Leadoff hitter Zach Penprase reached base on an error to Goldeyes third baseman Amos Ramon. He then stole second, stole third and scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Winnipeg reliever Chris Kissock. Kissock then gave up the solo homer to Alberts, his seventh bomb of the year, and that was it. Fargo finished with four runs on just six hits while the Goldeyes could manage only three runs on 11 hits. A pair of errors didnt help Winnipegs cause. Three Goldeyes had multi-hit games: Lentini went three-for-five with run scored, Ryan Scoma went two-for-four and raised his batting average to .351 and Ramon went two-for-three with a walk and an RBI. Fargo reliever Tyler Hess (1-0, 5.69 ERA) was the winner for Fargo, while Kissock (0-1, 0.00 ERA) gave up two unearned runs and suffered the loss. Chase Johnson picked up his fourth save for the RedHawks. The Goldeyes will now head out on a seven-game road swing. Theyll play four in Sioux Falls starting on Monday and then play three next weekend in Fargo, as they continue a series of 10 straight games against North Division rivals. ' ' '