Harden’s 19 points help Rockets survive sloppy effort vs. Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Houston Rockets prepared for tonight’s showdown with the gritty Memphis Grizzlies with one of the NBA’s ugliest games in years.
James Harden scored 19 points, and the Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 69-65 on Sunday night.
The last time a team won with 69 or fewer points was Detroit’s 6462 victory over Utah on March 13, 2005, according to STATS. Both teams shot below 30 percent from the field. The last time that happened was Oct. 29, 2003, when Denver beat San Antonio 80-72.
Houston shot just 28.8 percent. The last time an NBA team won with a lower percentage was on Feb. 19, 2000, when Chicago shot 28.6 percent and beat the Los Angeles Clippers 74-72.
“That game will not go in the NBA Hall of Fame,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.
Houston escaped, and now, the Rockets travel to Memphis for a matchup of 9-1 teams that share the NBA’s best record.
“Same kind of game, probably,” Harden said. “A slow, grinding game, and we just need to rebuild our mental toughness, so it’s going to be another great challenge for us.”
Dwight Howard had 12 points and nine rebounds for Houston, and Patrick Beverley added 12 points and eight boards.
With the score tied at 65, Harden hit a 3-pointer with Jeremy Lamb in his face with 1:19 to play. With Rockets still leading 68- 65, Harden missed another contested 3 against Lamb, giving the Thunder a chance to tie.
Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson missed a deep 3-pointer, and Harden made one of two free throws with 4.7 seconds left to put the game away.
Jackson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, and Lance Thomas added 15 points.
The Rockets led 42-33 at halftime. Oklahoma City blocked 11 shots for the team’s highest total in a half since moving from Seattle for the 2008- 09 season. Steven Adams had a career-high six blocks before the break, but the Thunder couldn’t take advantage because of 25-percent shooting.
The game featured four technical fouls, a Flagrant-1 and a lot of exchanged words.
OTHER GAMES
Warriors 136, Lakers 115 at Los Angeles: Stephen Curry had 30 points and 15 assists and Marreese Speights added 24 points as Golden State cruised past the Los Angeles Lakers despite 44 points by Kobe Bryant.
Andrew Bogut had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Klay Thompson, finished with 18 points as all of Golden State’s starters scored in double figures for the second straight game.
Bucks 91, Heat 84 at Miami: Brandon Knight made three 3-pointers down the stretch and scored 20 points, leading Milwaukee to the road win. Jabari Parker added 13 points for the Bucks.
Milwaukee beat Miami for the first time in the teams’ last 10 meetings, including playoffs.
Mario Chalmers scored 18 for Miami, which was without Dwyane Wade for a second game and lost its third straight. Former Memphis Tiger Shawne Williams had 13 points.
Knicks 109, Nuggets 93 at New York: The Knicks held the Nuggets to one basket in the second quarter and snapped a sevengame losing streak.
With the game tied at 31 entering the period, the Knicks outscored the Nuggets 31-8. Ty Lawson’s layup at the buzzer was the lone field goal for Denver in the second.
Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith each scored 28 points for New York.
Arron Afflalo had 18 points and Lawson added 17 points and nine assists for the Nuggets.