2012–13 Houston Rockets season

The 2012–13 Houston Rockets season was the 46th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 42nd based in Houston.

2012–13 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Kevin McHale
General manager	Daryl Morey
Owner(s)	Leslie Alexander
Arena	Toyota Center
Results
Record	45–37 (.549)
Place	Division: 3rd (Southwest) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	First Round (lost to Thunder 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	CSN Houston^[1]
Radio	Sportstalk 790
< 2011–12 2013–14 >

The season is best remembered for acquiring All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade. Along with Harden, the team brought in point guard Jeremy Lin after a magical season with the New York Knicks the prior year and center Omer Asik.

Despite a stellar season from new team captains Harden and Lin, the Rockets only managed to play mediocre basketball all season finishing with a 45–37 record, clinching the number 8 seed in the West. The Rockets season ended with a first round loss to Harden's former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in six games. As Houston hosted the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, Harden was the only representative.

Key dates

• June 26: The Rockets trade forward Chase Budinger and their rights to Lior Eliyahu to the Minnesota Timberwolves for their 18th draft pick.
• June 27: Houston trades center Samuel Dalembert and their 14th draft pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for shooting guard Shaun Livingston, small forward Jon Brockman, power forward Jon Leuer, and their 12th draft pick.
• June 28: The 2012 NBA draft takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
• July 1: Free agency has begun.
• July 11: Teams can now sign, trade, and even amnesty players to their liking.
• July 13: Houston uses their amnesty clause on Luis Scola. His rights were received by the Phoenix Suns two days later.
• July 18: Houston officially signs point guard Jeremy Lin, after the New York Knicks decline on matching their offer.
• July 25: Houston officially signs center Ömer Aşık, after the Chicago Bulls decline on matching their offer.
• March 5: Houston sign 09-10 NBA Most Improved Player Award and former Sacramento Kings point guard Aaron Brooks. In addition, Houston waive F Tyler Honeycutt in order to make room for Aaron Brooks.

Draft picks

Main article: 2012 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Team
1	12	Jeremy Lamb	SG	United States	Connecticut
1	16	Royce White	PF	United States	Iowa State
1	18	Terrence Jones	PF	United States	Kentucky

Roster

2012–13 Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G/F 5 Anderson, James 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1989–03–25 Oklahoma State C 3 Aşık, Ömer 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1986–07–04 Turkey G 12 Beverley, Patrick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1988–07–12 Arkansas G 0 Brooks, Aaron 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1985–01–14 Oregon G/F 10 Delfino, Carlos 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1982–08–29 Argentina G/F 32 García, Francisco 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1981–12–31 Dominican Republic G 13 Harden, James (C) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1989–08–26 Arizona State F 6 Jones, Terrence 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1992–01–09 Kentucky G 7 Lin, Jeremy (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–08–23 Harvard F/C 20 Motiejūnas, Donatas 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1990–09–20 Lithuania F/C 14 Ohlbrecht, Tim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1988–08–30 Germany F 25 Parsons, Chandler (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1988–10–25 Florida F 41 Robinson, Thomas 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 237 lb (108 kg) 1991–03–17 Kansas F/C 4 Smith, Greg 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1991–01–08 Fresno State F 30 White, Royce (DL) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1991–04–10 Iowa State

Head coach Kevin McHale Assistant coach(es) Kelvin Sampson J. B. Bickerstaff Chris Finch Greg Buckner Dean Cooper Jesse Mermuys Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate   Injured Roster Last transaction: 2013–03–30

Regular season

Game log

2012–13 game log Total: 45–37 (home: 29–12; road: 16–25)
October: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31 @ Detroit W 105–96 James Harden (37) Ömer Aşık (9) James Harden (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills 16,646 1–0
November : 6–8 (home: 5–3; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 2 @ Atlanta W 109–102 James Harden (45) Ömer Aşık (19) Jeremy Lin (7) Philips Arena 18,238 2–0 3 November 3 Portland L 85–95 James Harden (24) Ömer Aşık (15) Jeremy Lin (7) Toyota Center 18,140 2–1 4 November 7 Denver L 87–93 Carlos Delfino (19) Ömer Aşık (13) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 13,372 2–2 5 November 9 @ Memphis L 85–93 Chandler Parsons (19) Ömer Aşık (13) Patterson & Harden (4) FedExForum 16,087 2–3 6 November 10 Detroit W 96–82 James Harden (20) Aşık & Morris (8) Jeremy Lin (8) Toyota Center 15,037 3–3 7 November 12 Miami L 110–113 Chandler Parsons (25) Ömer Aşık (14) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 18,041 3–4 8 November 14 New Orleans W 100–96 James Harden (30) Ömer Aşık (12) Lin, Harden & Delfino (4) Toyota Center 14,535 4–4 9 November 16 @ Portland L 117–119 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (16) Jeremy Lin (11) Rose Garden 20,382 4–5 10 November 18 @ L. A. Lakers L 108–119 Chandler Parsons (24) Ömer Aşık (9) Jeremy Lin (10) Staples Center 18,997 4–6 11 November 19 @ Utah L 91–102 Patrick Patterson (19) Chandler Parsons (10) Chandler Parsons (5) EnergySolutions Arena 19,197 4–7 12 November 21 Chicago W 93–89 James Harden (28) Chandler Parsons (13) Lin & Harden (3) Toyota Center 15,950 5–7 13 November 23 New York W 131–103 James Harden (33) Ömer Aşık (14) James Harden (9) Toyota Center 18,038 6–7 14 November 27 Toronto W 117–101 James Harden (24) Ömer Aşık (18) James Harden (12) Toyota Center 12,907 7–7 15 November 28 @ Oklahoma City L 98–120 Patrick Patterson (27) Ömer Aşık (12) Jeremy Lin (8) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 7–8
December : 10–6 (home: 7–3; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 1 Utah W 124–116 Patrick Patterson (20) Ömer Aşık (12) Jeremy Lin (8) Toyota Center 14,432 8–8 17 December 4 L. A. Lakers W 107–105 Toney Douglas (22) James Harden (10) James Harden (6) Toyota Center 18,052 9–8 18 December 7 @ San Antonio L 92–114 James Harden (29) Jeremy Lin (6) Patterson & Harden (5) AT&T Center 18,581 9–9 19 December 8 Dallas L 109–116 James Harden (39) Chandler Parsons (10) James Harden (9) Toyota Center 15,726 9–10 20 December 10 San Antonio L 126–134 (OT) Jeremy Lin (38) Ömer Aşık (10) Jeremy Lin (7) Toyota Center 13,959 9–11 21 December 12 Washington W 99–93 James Harden (31) Ömer Aşık (16) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 13,351 10–11 22 December 14 Boston W 101–89 James Harden (21) Ömer Aşık (10) Chandler Parsons (8) Toyota Center 15,679 11–11 23 December 16 @ Toronto L 96–103 James Harden (28) Ömer Aşık (13) Harden & Parsons (4) Air Canada Centre 17,863 11–12 24 December 17 @ New York W 109–96 James Harden (28) James Harden (10) Jeremy Lin (8) Madison Square Garden 19,033 12–12 25 December 19 Philadelphia W 125–103 James Harden (33) Ömer Aşık (15) James Harden (7) Toyota Center 15,266 13–12 26 December 22 Memphis W 121–96 James Harden (31) Ömer Aşık (12) Jeremy Lin (11) Toyota Center 18,029 14–12 27 December 25 @ Chicago W 120–97 James Harden (26) Ömer Aşık (18) Jeremy Lin (11) United Center 22,310 15–12 28 December 26 @ Minnesota W 87–84 James Harden (30) Ömer Aşık (17) Chandler Parsons (5) Target Center 20,340 16–12 29 December 28 @ San Antonio L 116–122 James Harden (33) Ömer Aşık (10) Jeremy Lin (8) AT&T Center 18,581 16–13 30 December 29 Oklahoma City L 94–124 James Harden (25) Aşık & Smith (8) Jeremy Lin (7) Toyota Center 18,460 16–14 31 December 31 Atlanta W 123–104 James Harden (28) Ömer Aşık (17) Jeremy Lin (8) Toyota Center 18,160 17–14
January : 8–9 (home: 3–2; road: 5–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 2 New Orleans W 104–92 James Harden (31) Patterson & Parsons (10) Lin & Harden (7) Toyota Center 18,198 18–14 33 January 4 @ Milwaukee W 115–101 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (8) Lin, Harden & Parsons (7) BMO Harris Bradley Center 15,867 19–14 34 January 5 @ Cleveland W 112–104 James Harden (29) Greg Smith (11) Jeremy Lin (5) Quicken Loans Arena 16,866 20–14 35 January 8 L. A. Lakers W 125–112 James Harden (31) Lin, Harden & Delfino (6) James Harden (9) Toyota Center 18,135 21–14 36 January 9 @ New Orleans L 79–88 James Harden (25) Patrick Patterson (10) Jeremy Lin (5) New Orleans Arena 11,453 21–15 37 January 11 @ Boston L 91–103 James Harden (24) Ömer Aşık (11) Jeremy Lin (6) TD Garden 18,624 21–16 38 January 12 @ Philadelphia L 100–107 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (10) James Harden (6) Wells Fargo Center 17,329 21–17 39 January 15 L. A. Clippers L 109–117 James Harden (23) Ömer Aşık (9) Jeremy Lin (10) Toyota Center 16,823 21–18 40 January 16 @ Dallas L 100–105 James Harden (20) Ömer Aşık (15) Jeremy Lin (7) American Airlines Center 20,147 21–19 41 January 18 @ Indiana L 95–105 Ömer Aşık (22) Ömer Aşık (12) James Harden (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 16,902 21–20 42 January 19 @ Minnesota L 79–92 James Harden (18) Greg Smith (8) James Harden (5) Target Center 16,799 21–21 43 January 21 @ Charlotte W 100–94 James Harden (29) Aşık & Morris (8) James Harden (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 16,108 22–21 44 January 23 Denver L 95–105 James Harden (23) Ömer Aşık (13) James Harden (7) Toyota Center 16,867 22–22 45 January 25 @ New Orleans W 100–82 James Harden (30) Patrick Patterson (13) Lin & Harden (8) New Orleans Arena 15,302 23–22 46 January 26 Brooklyn W 119–106 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (16) Chandler Parsons (11) Toyota Center 18,236 24–22 47 January 28 @ Utah W 125–80 James Harden (25) Ömer Aşık (19) Jeremy Lin (7) EnergySolutions Arena 18,387 25–22 48 January 30 @ Denver L 110–118 Jeremy Lin (22) Ömer Aşık (18) Jeremy Lin (5) Pepsi Center 17,399 25–23
February : 6–5 (home: 4–1; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 February 2 Charlotte W 109–95 Patterson & Parsons (24) Ömer Aşık (15) James Harden (11) Toyota Center 15,494 26–23 50 February 5 Golden State W 140–109 Jeremy Lin (28) Ömer Aşık (15) Jeremy Lin (9) Toyota Center 15,453 27–23 51 February 6 @ Miami L 108–114 James Harden (36) Ömer Aşık (14) James Harden (7) American Airlines Arena 19,693 27–24 52 February 8 Portland W 118–103 James Harden (35) Ömer Aşık (13) James Harden (11) Toyota Center 15,655 28–24 53 February 10 @ Sacramento L 111–117 James Harden (30) Ömer Aşık (12) Patrick Beverley (8) Power Balance Pavilion 15,526 28–25 54 February 12 @ Golden State W 116–107 James Harden (27) Ömer Aşık (15) Jeremy Lin (10) Oracle Arena 19,596 29–25 55 February 13 @ L. A. Clippers L 96–106 Chandler Parsons (17) Ömer Aşık (7) Jeremy Lin (7) Staples Center 19,251 29–26 All-Star Break 56 February 20 Oklahoma City W 122–119 James Harden (46) Ömer Aşık (10) Jeremy Lin (8) Toyota Center 18,224 30–26 57 February 22 @ Brooklyn W 106–96 Carlos Delfino (22) Ömer Aşık (11) Jeremy Lin (6) Barclays Center 17,732 31–26 58 February 23 @ Washington L 103–105 James Harden (27) Ömer Aşık (10) James Harden (6) Verizon Center 20,308 31–27 59 February 27 Milwaukee L 107–110 James Harden (25) Ömer Aşık (22) James Harden (7) Toyota Center 15,463 31–28
March : 9–5 (home: 7–2; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 60 March 1 @ Orlando W 118–110 James Harden (24) Ömer Aşık (12) James Harden (8) Amway Center 16,677 32–28 61 March 3 Dallas W 136–103 Chandler Parsons (32) Ömer Aşık (10) Jeremy Lin (9) Toyota Center 18,123 33–28 62 March 6 @ Dallas L 108–112 James Harden (28) Ömer Aşık (15) James Harden (9) American Airlines Center 20,344 33–29 63 March 8 @ Golden State W 94–88 Chandler Parsons (26) Ömer Aşık (17) James Harden (11) Oracle Arena 19,596 34–29 64 March 9 @ Phoenix L 105–107 James Harden (38) Ömer Aşık (16) James Harden (8) US Airways Center 16,734 34–30 65 March 13 Phoenix W 111–81 Donatas Motiejūnas (19) Greg Smith (12) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 18,132 35–30 66 March 15 Minnesota W 108–100 James Harden (37) Ömer Aşık (11) James Harden (8) Toyota Center 18,046 36–30 67 March 17 Golden State L 78–108 James Harden (21) Ömer Aşık (11) James Harden (8) Toyota Center 18,219 36–31 68 March 20 Utah W 100–93 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (12) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 15,739 37–31 69 March 22 Cleveland W 116–78 James Harden (20) Greg Smith (13) Jeremy Lin (6) Toyota Center 15,694 38–31 70 March 24 San Antonio W 96–95 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (14) James Harden (6) Toyota Center 18,245 39–31 71 March 27 Indiana L 91–100 James Harden (22) Greg Smith (19) James Harden (8) Toyota Center 18,134 39–32 72 March 29 @ Memphis L 94–103 Chandler Parsons (16) Greg Smith (9) James Harden & James Anderson (4) FedExForum 18,119 39–33 73 March 30 L. A. Clippers W 98–81 Chandler Parsons Jeremy Lin & Francisco García (15) Ömer Aşık (12) Chandler Parsons (4) Toyota Center 18,303 40–33
April : 5–4 (home: 3–1; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 1 Orlando W 111–103 Ömer Aşık (28) Ömer Aşık (18) Jeremy Lin (11) Toyota Center 16,273 41–33 75 April 3 @ Sacramento W 112–102 Chandler Parsons (29) Terrence Jones (12) Jeremy Lin (10) Sleep Train Arena 12,377 42–33 76 April 5 @ Portland W 116–98 James Harden (33) Ömer Aşık (11) Jeremy Lin (8) Rose Garden 20,400 43–33 77 April 6 @ Denver L 114–132 Jeremy Lin (23) Ömer Aşık (9) Patrick Beverley (9) Pepsi Center 19,155 43–34 78 April 9 Phoenix W 101–98 James Harden (33) Ömer Aşık (22) Harden & Lin (6) Toyota Center 16,673 44–34 79 April 12 Memphis L 78–82 James Harden (30) Terrence Jones (12) James Harden (6) Toyota Center 18,163 44–35 80 April 14 Sacramento W 121–100 James Harden (29) Ömer Aşık (12) James Harden (9) Toyota Center 18,138 45–35 81 April 15 @ Phoenix L 112–119 Chandler Parsons (24) Ömer Aşık (7) Chandler Parsons (7) US Airways Center 17,135 45–36 82 April 17 @ L. A. Lakers L 95–99 (OT) James Harden (30) Ömer Aşık (12) Jeremy Lin (8) Staples Center 18,997 45–37
2012–13 season schedule

Standings

Southwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–	35–6	23–18	12–4	82
x-Memphis Grizzlies	56	26	.683	2	32–9	24–17	10–6	82
x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13	29–12	16–25	6–10	82
Dallas Mavericks	41	41	.500	17	24–17	17–24	7–9	82
New Orleans Hornets	27	55	.329	31	16–25	11–30	5–11	82

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c-Oklahoma City Thunder *	60	22	.732	–	82
2	y-San Antonio Spurs *	58	24	.707	2.0	82
3	x-Denver Nuggets *	57	25	.695	3.0	82
4	y-Los Angeles Clippers	56	26	.683	4.0	82
5	x-Memphis Grizzlies	56	26	.683	4.0	82
6	x-Golden State Warriors	47	35	.573	13.0	82
7	x-Los Angeles Lakers	45	37	.549	15.0	82
8	x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	15.0	82
9	Utah Jazz	43	39	.524	17.0	82
10	Dallas Mavericks	41	41	.500	19.0	82
11	Portland Trail Blazers	33	49	.402	27.0	82
12	Minnesota Timberwolves	31	51	.378	29.0	82
13	Sacramento Kings	28	54	.341	32.0	82
14	New Orleans Hornets	27	55	.329	33.0	82
15	Phoenix Suns	25	57	.305	35.0	82

Playoffs

2013 playoff game log
First Round: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 21 @ Oklahoma City L 91–120 James Harden (20) Terrence Jones (8) Lin, Beverley (4) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 0–1 2 April 24 @ Oklahoma City L 102–105 James Harden (36) Ömer Aşık (14) Harden, Beverley (6) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 0–2 3 April 27 Oklahoma City L 101–104 James Harden (30) Aşık, Harden (8) Chandler Parsons (7) Toyota Center 18,163 0–3 4 April 29 Oklahoma City W 105–103 Chandler Parsons (27) Ömer Aşık (14) Chandler Parsons (8) Toyota Center 18,081 1–3 5 May 1 @ Oklahoma City W 107–100 James Harden (31) Ömer Aşık (11) Chandler Parsons (4) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 2–3 6 May 3 Oklahoma City L 94–103 James Harden (26) Ömer Aşık (13) James Harden (7) Toyota Center 18,357 2–4
2013 schedule

References

1. 2012-13 Houston Rockets Schedule, NBA.com, Retrieved October 13, 2012