Rockets Set NBA Record for Most 3-Pointers in Game vs. Pelicans

The Houston Rockets proved Friday night that there is another team in the Western Conference that can shoot from deep like the Golden State Warriors. 

Against the New Orleans Pelicans, Houston set NBA records with 24 made three-pointers, 31 attempts in a half and 61 attempts in a game, per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins. 

The Rockets showcased each of their 24 threes from Friday in what turned out to be a 122-100 win:

Six different players hit at least one three-pointer on the night as the Rockets shot 39.3 percent from deep for the game. 

Coming off the bench, shooting guard Eric Gordon led the team with seven of them, while James Harden added six, and Trevor Ariza sank five. Both Gordon and Harden recorded game highs of 29 points. 

They kept it late, but Ryan Anderson provided the record-breaker with 32.3 seconds to go, lifting the 2016 Rockets past the 2013 Rockets and 2009 Orlando Magic.

The Rockets had also previously set the league record for most three-point attempts in a game this season against the Sacramento Kings in late November with 50. 

It's become abundantly clear as of late that the Rockets will continue to live and die by the three considering this is the fourth time in five games and 12th time this year that the team has attempted 40 or more threes, per Watkins. 

Gordon also told Watkins after the game that the 61 attempts might not be the record by season's end: "I wouldn't doubt before the season is over we would break that record again. I think it will happen for sure this season. A lot of teams like to load up and not let us get layups, and it forces us to shoot threes. Why not? We might have that chance again."

The Rockets are running away on the stat sheet because of this game plan. Per ESPN.com, their 376 made three-pointers are 54 more than the second-place Warriors, and their 978 attempts are 124 more than Golden State. 

Even with such a high volume of shots from long range, the Rockets still rank fifth in the league with a season percentage of 38.4. 

If those numbers continue, Houston will be a top-tier team as the season progresses.