Harden lifts Rockets over Pistons in OT
HOUSTON — James Harden scored 21 points, including 10 of Houston’s 12 points in overtime, to shake off a tough four quarters and lift the Rockets to a 100-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
After going 2 of 16 in regulation, including missing a shot that would have won it, Harden warmed up in overtime. He put Houston up with a basket early in the period before making it 93-90 on a three-point play after a basket by Andre Drummond. He added three free throws with about a minute left before P.J. Tucker’s tip-in made it 98-90 with 21 seconds to play.
Blake Griffin, who finished with a tripledouble, had a 3-pointer after that, but Harden made two more free throws to push the lead to seven. Harden missed both free throws after a 3-pointer by Ish Smith with 4.2 seconds left, but the Rockets held on to extend their winning streak to seven games.
It was an ugly game which featured 71 missed 3-pointers combined. Houston was 12 of 51 and Detroit, whose loss clinched a playoff spot for the Cleveland Cavaliers, made just 6 of 38.
Eric Gordon added 22 points for Houston on a night Chris Paul sat out with a sore left hamstring.
Griffin had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Drummond had 17 points and 20 rebounds.
The Pistons trailed by nine with about 4 minutes left in regulation when Griffin made a layup to start an 11-0 run. Reggie Bullock made a 3-pointer and Luke Kennard had four points in that stretch, including two free throws that put Detroit up 88-86 with about 90 seconds remaining.
Houston tied the game when Drummond was called for Houston’s James Harden drives toward the basket as Detroit’s Andre Drummond defends during Thursday’s game.
goaltending on a shot by Tucker with 30.5 seconds left.
Griffin missed a shot with 9 seconds left and Harden’s shot jump shot at the buzzer was off to send the game into overtime.
After scoring 42 in Houston’s win over Portland on Tuesday, Harden had trouble getting anything going against Detroit. He made 13 of 18 free throws, but was 0 for 8 on 3-pointers.
The Rockets opened the fourth quarter with five straight points, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Trevor Ariza, to lead 76-68 with about 10 1/2 minutes left.
Detroit got within four points before a 7-2 run by Houston made it 83-74 midway through the quarter. Joe Johnson got things going in that stretch with a 3-pointer and Gordon scored the other four points.
Griffin received a flagrant foul early in the third quarter when he tripped Harden as he came down after a 3-point attempt. Harden twisted his left ankle as he landed and crashed to the court. He remained there for a couple of minutes before slowly getting to his feet and remaining in the game.
HORNETS 140, GRIZZLIES 79: Kemba Walker scored 46 points and made 10 3-pointers, and Charlotte rolled to the most lopsided victory in franchise history by beating Memphis at home. Walker had the ninth 40-point game of his career as the Hornets overcame the absence of the suspended Dwight Howard. 76ERS 118, MAGIC 98: Joel Embiid had 17 points and nine rebounds in just 20 minutes and Philadelphia moved closer to a playoff berth with a road victory over Orlando. Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 points, leading six Philadelphia players in double figures as the 76ers won their fifth straight and clinched their first non-losing season in six years. PROTESTS DELAY START OF KINGS-HAWKS GAME: The game between Sacramento and Atlanta started after a 19-minute delay due to protesters who were locked arm-in-arm surrounding entrances to Golden1 Center in Sacramento. A massive crowd shut down nearby freeways and gathered in the surrounding streets to protest the police shooting of Stephon Clark, who was unarmed and in the backyard of his grandparents’ house Sunday night. According to reports, Clark was shot 20 times.