HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets were determined to make up for losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener. It was clear from the beginning Wednesday night that things would be different this time around.Eric Gordon made a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help the Rockets cruise to a 134-95 victory.James Harden added 25 points in three quarters. The Rockets scored a season high and extended their winning streak to a season-best four games.They have a lot of good road wins and for us that first game we played this season we lost so we wanted a get-back game, Harden said.The Rockets were up by 12 in the third quarter, then had a 22-6 run to make it 96-68 and put the game out of reach with about 3 minutes left in the quarter. Houston made four 3-pointers and got a nifty one-handed dunk from Clint Capela in that run to pad the lead.Gordon already had four 3-pointers 7 minutes into the first quarter after making each of his first four attempts. It was his seventh straight game with at least four 3-pointers, which is a franchise record.Im just settling in on my role and my role is definitely to bring a different energy and scoring, playmaking with the second unit, he said. Im settling in and its getting better and better. Teammates look for me and its just up to me to knock down shots.Houston has its longest winning streak since taking five straight in January.Lou Williams led the Lakers with 24 points. They have lost four in a row, their longest skid of the season.We just didnt play well, he said. It was just one of those nights where we didnt respond to anything that was going on.The Rockets led by 18 after a layup by Gordon to start the second quarter. It was the only shot he made that wasnt a 3-pointer. The Lakers got going after that, using a 17-6 run to cut the lead to 51-44 about five minutes before halftime. Brandon Ingram made two 3-pointers in that stretch and Jordan Clarkson capped the run with a 3.Houston got back on track after that and had pushed the lead to 67-52 with 1.4 second left in the half. Lou Williams cut the deficit after that when he hit a 3-pointer from beyond half court at the buzzer.TIP-INSLakers: Coach Luke Walton said DAngelo Russell (sore left knee) is getting better but he isnt sure when hell return. ... Williams scored more than 20 points for the ninth time this season. ... Julius Randle added 21 points and 10 rebounds.Rockets: Scored a season-high 43 points in the first quarter. ... Made 15 3-pointers to extend their NBA record of games with at least 10 3s to 21. ... Gordon has scored at least 20 points in four of the last six games. ... The Rockets had 67 points at halftime and have scored at least 60 points in the first half in five of their last seven games. ... Harden had eight assists, six rebounds and four steals.SO CLOSEHoustons Patrick Beverley came three rebounds shy of his first career triple-double, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and tying a career high with 12 assists. Coach Mike DAntoni said he kept him in a little longer than the other starters to give him a shot to get it.Harden joked about the 6-foot-1 Beverleys inability to get those last rebounds.I wanted him to get a triple-double so bad, Harden said. Every rebound he tried to get he couldnt get it because hes so small.NO EXCUSESWalton wouldnt make excuses for this lopsided loss despite the Lakers playing without Russell and Nick Young, who is also out with an injury.Obviously, we are missing key players and we are going to lose games, but if were just sitting around as a team saying were waiting for this guy or that, thats not the mindset you want ... thats not an acceptable excuse, he said.UP NEXTLakers: Host Phoenix on Friday nightRockets: Visit Oklahoma City on Friday night. Adidas Superstar Outlet . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Scarpe Adidas Superstar Scontate . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.adidassuperstarscontate.it/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Adidas Superstar Scontate . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Adidas Superstar Italia .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. A look at whats happening all around the majors Monday:---OCTOBER COMES EARLYReggie Jackson hitting three home runs, Don Larsen pitching a perfect game, Jackie Robinson sliding into Yogi Berra. Dodgers vs. Yankees always conjures up World Series memories. Matchups in the regular season? Not so much. Since interleague play began in 1997, the Dodgers have visited Yankee Stadium for just one day -- they split a doubleheader in the Bronx in 2013. The NL West leaders open a three-game series against the AL playoff contenders, with Los Angeles rookie Jose De Leon starting against Bryan Mitchell.BIRDS IN BEANTOWNRed Sox lefty David Price tries for his seventh straight win when he faces Baltimore at Fenway Park in a game full of playoff implications. Boston leads the AL East while the Orioles and Toronto are tied two games back for the wild-card spots. Lefty Wade Miley starts for the Os.HES READYThe St. Louis Cardinals have activated All-Star shortstop Aledmys Diaz from the ddisabled list.dddddddddddd He missed 36 games after his right thumb was broken when he was hit by a pitch. Diaz was batting a team-best .312 with 14 homers and 57 RBI in 96 games when he got hurt. The wild-card contenders host the NL Central-leading Cubs.NEW STARTMat Latos makes his first start for the NL East-leading Nationals, facing the visiting Mets. The 28-year-old righty was 6-2 with a 4.62 ERA for the White Sox when they cut him in June. Latos has won once in relief for Washington. He was a top starter for the Reds a few years ago when they were managed by Dusty Baker, now the Nationals skipper.METS ON THE MENDMets lefty Steven Matz is set to throw again at the teams spring training complex in Florida as he rehabs from shoulder tightness. Teammate Jacob deGrom might toss off a mound as he recovers from soreness in his right forearm. ' ' '