Rockets set trio of NBA single-game 3-point records

HOUSTON -- The Rockets set a trio of NBA 3-point records in a 122-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

The Rockets set records for 3-pointers made (24) and 3-pointers attempted in a half (31) and in a game (61).

A 3-pointer by Ryan Anderson with 32.3 seconds left to play set the mark for most 3s in a game.The old mark was shared by Houston in 2013 and Orlando in 2009.

"We're just trying to take the right shots in the sense of either a 3 or a layup," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Something has got to be there. A team has to choose. I really feel like we don't force many."

The Rockets had previously set the record for the most 3-point attempts in a game with 50 on Nov. 25 at Sacramento, beating the previous mark of 49 set by Dallas in 1996.

Houston now has attempted 40-plus 3-pointers in four of its past five games and 12 times overall this season.

That ties the NBA record for most games with 40-plus 3-point attempts in a single season, which the Rockets set last season.

Of the 10 Rockets who played, six attempted at least one 3-pointer, including backup center Montrezl Harrell.

Rockets guard Eric Gordon, who led the team with seven made 3-pointers, said he thinks the 61 total 3-pointers might be broken.

"We can still be better," said Gordon, who has hit at least three 3-point field goals in each of the past 12 games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in league history. "I wouldn't doubt before the season is over we would break that record again. I think it will happen for sure this season. A lot of teams like to load up and not let us get layups, and it forces us to shoot 3s. Why not? We might have that chance again."