JAMES HARDEN scored 26 points and dished out 15 assists as the Rockets defeat the Pelicans 123-117 in Shanghai on Sunday.

    “The atmosphere was completely different,” Rockets forward K.J. McDaniels said. “Every time we seemed to make a shot or a dunk the crowd was extremely loud. It was extremely intense.”

    Former Pelicans Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson combined for 45. E’Twaun Moore had 25 points for the Pelicans while Anthony Davis scored 23 points in 23 minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter.

    There were relatively few signs of the Rockets being China’s team — until the fourth quarter when they sought to distract Pelicans shooters at the line and roared when Gordon sank a last-minute 3 to put the Rockets back in front.

    Yao Ming was as always conspicuous, but rather than as a conquering hero brought home, he was a reminder in the front row of how the Rockets and the NBA got here.

    As if inspired by the enthusiasm and electricity that put a charge into the arena, the Rockets and Pelicans turned the game into something ordinary — more like a regular-season game than a preseason workout to get ready for something else — and special at the same time.

    “We wanted to treat it like that,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It does help to have the energy of the crowd to get into it. Guys get into it. Both teams played hard for a preseason game. Really good work for our guys.”(SD-Agencies)