Harden’s heroics close deal
James Harden made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 34.8 seconds left and then closed out the Houston Rockets’ 9894 victory against the Pacers by making four straight free throws last night in Indianapolis.
The reigning MVP scored 28 points as the Rockets won their third straight since starting 1-5. And the victories have been coming in large part because of an improving defense. It’s the fourth time in six games the usually highscoring Rockets failed to hit the 100-point mark.
Victor Oladipo scored 28 points and made two 3s in the final minute to cut the deficit to 94-93 but it wasn’t enough as Indiana’s three-game winning streak ended.
Houston has won three straight in the series though this one took everything Harden and his mates could muster.
When P.J. Tucker’s 3-pointer rattled in with 7:28 left and Carmelo Anthony followed Tucker’s basket with another 3, the Rockets tied it at 81. Chris Paul broke the tie with a layup and Harden made a free throw after Pacers coach Nate McMillan drew a technical foul.
Oladipo tied it at 90 with his first 3 in the final minute. But Harden broke the tie with his fifth 3 of the game and Paul made a free throw to give Houston a 94-90 lead.
Bulls 116, Knicks 115 — Zach LaVine scored a career-high 41 points, including the game-winning free throw with 0.2 seconds left, as visiting Chicago beat New York in double overtime.
Antonio Blakeney scored 17 points, Jabari Parker had 15 and Wendell Carter Jr. added 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls.
Enes Kanter led the Knicks with 23 points and 24 rebounds while Allonzo Trier scored 21.
Magic 102, Cavaliers 100 — Evan Fournier hit a jumper at the final horn and host Orlando came back from a fivepoint deficit in the last 24 seconds to beat Cleveland.
Fournier took an inbounds pass with 1.8 seconds left after Nikola Vucevic blocked George Hill’s shot at the other end, and the ball went out of bounds off Hill.
J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds remaining had given the Cavaliers a 100-95 lead until Aaron Gordon scored for the Magic with 23.8 seconds to go.
Earlier in the day, Cavaliers assistant Larry Drew agreed to a new contract to be the team’s interim coach for the remainder of this season.
Heat 120, Pistons 115 — Josh Richardson scored 27 points to lead shorthanded Miami past host Detroit in overtime.
Richardson hit four free throws in the final 2.1 seconds to clinch it, ending Miami’s three-game skid. Detroit has dropped five in a row.
The Heat played without center Hassan Whiteside, who is second in the NBA in rebounding (14.6 per game) and blocked shots (2.75). Whiteside missed the game with an injured right knee.
Thunder 122, Pelicans 116 — Host Oklahoma City won its fifth straight game by beating New Orleans, but lost star point guard Russell Westbrook with a sprained left ankle.
After coming down hard on the side of his foot, Westbrook pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court. The Thunder led 84-77 when he left the game with 4:25 left in the third quarter.
Oklahoma City went on a run without its star to close the third quarter and led 100-86 at the end of the period.