NEWS

Patrick Patterson did not hesitate, contrary to the split second he waited before launching the 3-pointer that put away the Rockets’ victory Wednesday night. Asked about continuing to come off the bench, as he has in three games since missing seven with a bruised foot, he immediately said he wanted his starting job back.Patterson said he would not say a word to coaches, so he went about proving his point another way.With the Rockets unable to shake the Hornets, Patterson took over a close game down the stretch, sending the Rockets past New Orleans 104-92 at Toyota Center.With the Hornets within six points with three minutes left, Patterson scored on a putback, a 3-pointer and a reverse to give the Rockets a 13-point lead, their largest, and himself a 13-point fourth quarter.Even before his late-game breakthrough, Patterson, who paired 15 points with a season-high 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes, had his sights set not on finishing games but starting them.Patrick Patterson did not hesitate, contrary to the split second he waited before launching the 3-pointer that put away the Rockets’ victory Wednesday night. Asked about continuing to come off the bench, as he has in three games since missing seven with a bruised foot, he immediately said he wanted his starting job back.Patterson said he would not say a word to coaches, so he went about proving his point another way.With the Rockets unable to shake the Hornets, Patterson took over a close game down the stretch, sending the Rockets past New Orleans 104-92 at Toyota Center.With the Hornets within six points with three minutes left, Patterson scored on a putback, a 3-pointer and a reverse to give the Rockets a 13-point lead, their largest, and himself a 13-point fourth quarter.Even before his late-game breakthrough, Patterson, who paired 15 points with a season-high 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes, had his sights set not on finishing games but starting them.