Harden’s 44 lift Rockets
James Harden scored 44 points and powered a big fourth-quarter run that allowed host Houston to outlast Minnesota, 104-101 in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.
Minnesota scored four straight points to get within three with about 30 seconds left. Chris Paul added two free throws after that for Houston, but a tip-in by Karl-Anthony Towns got Minnesota back within three. After a bad pass by Paul gave Minnesota a chance to tie with 1.5 seconds left, Jimmy Butler’s shot was short.
The Timberwolves had a one-point lead with about seven minutes left when Houston used a 9-0 run, with the last seven points from Harden, to make it 94-86 with about four minutes to go. Harden, who also had a steal in that span, capped the run with a three-pointer that prompted Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau to call a timeout.
Jeff Teague ended Minnesota’s scoring drought with two free throws after the timeout and added a three-point play after a basket by Harden. Harden made another shot to give him 11 straight points for Houston before another basket by Teague.
Harden got Clint Capela in on the scoring after that, finding him for an alley-oop that pushed the lead to 101-93 with less than three minutes left.
The top-seeded Rockets had their hands full with the No. 8 Timberwolves on a night where Houston made only 10 of 37 three-pointers. Harden made seven of 12 three-pointers, but Trevor Ariza, P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon and Paul combined to make only three of 22 tries.
Houston kept All-Star big man Towns in check, limiting him to just eight points after he’d averaged 21.3 in leading the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance since 2004. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points to lead Minnesota.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Houston.
at Oklahoma City 116, Utah 108: On Saturday, Thunder forward Paul George told reporters about an alter-ego he calls “Playoff P.” On Sunday, he gave the media, his teammates and the Utah Jazz a formal introduction.
He scored 36 points to help Oklahoma City defeat Utah in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
George set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight three-pointers, blowing past the previous record of five. He made eight of 11 shots from long range, and 13 of 20 shots overall. It was his first playoff game with the Thunder since being acquired in a trade with Indiana in the offseason.
Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, and Carmelo Anthony added 15 points for the Thunder. Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell had 27 points and 10 rebounds, but he left in the second half with left foot soreness. He returned in the fourth quarter but was noticeably hobbling.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.