Harden thrilled with improved Rockets defense: 'We're getting after it'

The Houston Rockets aren't struggling to score while averaging 120.1 points through the first nine games of the 2019-20 campaign.

However, their inability to prevent baskets has been well-documented in the early going, which is why James Harden was thrilled after the Rockets' 117-94 win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

"Our talk, our aggressiveness, we're getting after it," Harden said of the Rockets' defense, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "We were too soft earlier - the first couple games, we were too soft. So, we've got to make teams feel us a little bit more defensively."

Houston ranks 23rd in defensive rating (110.1), 25th in points allowed per game (118.7), and 26th in opponent's 3-point field-goal percentage (37.6%). The Rockets allowed 158 points in a victory earlier this season over the Washington Wizards, with their opponent matching the NBA record for the most points scored in a regulation loss.

But the club is making strides defensively since a 129-100 blowout loss to the Miami Heat. Houston is riding a three-game win streak, and over that stretch opponents are averaging 102 points per game while shooting 22.2% from beyond the arc.

Chicago hit just four triples on 32 attempts Saturday, and the Rockets limited the Bulls to 37.8% shooting from the field.

"That's been a point of emphasis: to try to keep teams under 100," said Rockets forward P.J. Tucker. "We know even on our worst night, we're still gonna score 100 points, so if we keep teams under 24 a quarter, we will be alright and will have a really good chance to win the game - so it's something from here on out we always try to take advantage of."

Houston sits third in the Western Conference with a 6-3 record entering play on Sunday.