HARDEN, WESTBROOK STAR IN ROCKETS’ WIN
HOUSTON: James Harden scored 49 points, Russell Westbrook added 31 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets erased a 14-point deficit and rallied for a 153-149 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.
The Rockets claimed the season series with Dallas two games to one by finally mustering some defensive might down the stretch of the fourth quarter.
Trailing 139-137, Houston got a tip-in of a Harden missed free throw from Robert Covington with 3.3 seconds left to force overtime. Covington, following an 0-for-8 start from behind the arc, added a 3-pointer with 1:22 left in overtime to extend the Houston lead to 150-146.
Trailing 139-137, Houston got a tip-in of a Harden missed free throw from Robert Covington with 3.3 seconds left to force overtime. Covington, following an 0-for-8 start from behind the arc, added a 3-pointer with 1:22 left in overtime to extend the Houston lead to 150-146.
Luka Doncic recorded his league-leading 15th tripledouble with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists while Kristaps Porzingis paced the Mavericks with 39 points and 16 rebounds.
Trey Burke added 31 points on 8-of-10 3-point shooting off the bench while Tim Hardaway Jr scored 24 points for Dallas.
Portland Trail Blazers 140 - Memphis Grizzlies 135 (OT)
CJ Mccollum scored 33 points, Damian Lillard added 29, and Portland overwhelmed Memphis in overtime.
The Trail Blazers built a first-half lead then surged ahead 75-62 in the third quarter before a 22-6 run pushed the Grizzlies ahead. The game was back-andforth from there until the Blazers took control in the extra frame.
Rookie Ja Morant, the Grizzlies’ leading scorer on the season at just under 18 points per game, finished with 22 points on Friday. He had only two points on 1-of5 shooting at half-time but came to life to lead the thirdquarter run. Morant also handed out 11 assists.
— Reuters
The Rockets claimed the season series with Dallas two games to one by finally mustering some defensive might down the stretch of the fourth quarter.