Eric Gordon scored 29 points off the bench, James Harden had 26 points and 10 assists, and the Rockets outlasted the Boston Celtics 123-120 on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to a season-high 15 games. That's a good sign for Celtics fans, as Boston has struggled in recent months. In the end, the team won thanks to-you guessed it-defense.
Despite all the lead changes, Houston trailed for much of the night, and when Terry Rozier canned a 3-pointer with 4:01 to play, the deficit was at six, and it should've been more, but Kyrie Irving's reverse layup 57 seconds later rimmed out, and the Rockets took advantage.
As the players had all said leading into this one, this wasn't a playoff game.
"Defense (is) what it boiled down to", Gordon said.
"In the first half they were getting a lot of easy looks, they made us scramble defensively". "We're not at a time to relax at all", James Harden told the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. He is averaging 24.9 points on 49.2% shooting, 5.1 assists, and 1.1 steals, though his play has been better than his stats suggest.
Since the break, the Celtics bench ranks first in the league in minutes played, first in scoring, second in field goal percentage, fourth in 3-point percentage, first in rebounding and second in net rating (plus-5.6). It may be close once again, but the Rockets will be too good at home and will escape from the clutches of the Celtics in the final half of the last quarter. He made both to put the Rockets up by four 119-115. Irving made a layup seconds later, but Harden made one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left to make it 120-117.
Kyrie Irving tried to miss the second free throw both times to give his team a chance at the offensive rebound, but failed on each occasion. Marcus Smart's desperation three-pointer at the buzzer - after hauling in a full-court pass, turning and firing in about two seconds - stunningly drew iron but did not fall.
This will be an entertaining game and will go well past the 99-98 total we saw when the sides last met.
Marcus Morris led the Celts with 21 points, while Kyrie Irving and Greg Monroe added 18 apiece. The Rockets didn't have Chris Paul or Clint Capela in that game, but they will suit up tonight.
In a league dominated by fast-paced offense and talented scorers, the Boston Celtics serve as a good reminder that defense still wins championships.
Along with Irving, Brown and Tatum are combining for over 27 points per game, followed by Horford with almost 13, Marcus Morris with 12, and both Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart averaging just over 10 respectively. Paul George added 21 points.
"I just thought they maximized more possessions than we did", Boston coach Brad Stevens said.
Paul Millsap hit a lead-saving 3-pointer with 2:26 remaining, sending Denver to a victory over host Cleveland.
With the lead having already switched hands four times in the game's first five minutes, Trevor Ariza hit a 3-pointer to put the Rockets back on top 14-13, starting a 16-7 run that put the Rockets up 30-22, but Boston scored the final 10 points of the quarter, and scored the first four points of the second.
CJ McCollum scored 28 points and Damian Lillard had 20 as the Portland Trail Blazers won their sixth straight game with a 108-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Recommended:
-
Gophers edge Hawkeyes in Big 10 Tournament quarterfinals
Megan Gustafson has spent a season crediting her teammates for their roles in the Iowa women's basketball team's success. Cook's statement doesn't mention Iowa, so it's still not a guarantee he'll be back in Iowa City for the 2018-19 season.Slovak police detain 7 over slain journalist
Two of those mentioned by Kuciak resigned Tuesday, although they denied any connection to organized crime or the killings. He, like fellow murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia , worked on the Panama Papers scandal.Prestigious LA School evacuated after ex-footballer's chilling threat
Former Dolphins teammates Richie Incognito and Mike Pouncey , as well as two other people, were tagged in the post. Incognito did not play the entire 2014 season, but later signed with the Buffalo Bills , where he still plays. -
US Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun Steps Down Following Larry Nassar Case
We must have the tools, personnel and resources to detect abuses and respond swiftly and decisively to stop them. The few outstanding audit items are expected to be cleared in coming weeks.Billy Graham death: See thousands turn out to honor late evangelist
On Friday, President Trump eulogized Graham at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on the border of D.C. Capitol police officers who died in the line of duty protecting congressmen and civilians inside the Capitol in 1998.Malcolm Turnbull briefed on North Korea sanctions, U.S. official says
North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seeking to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Although South Korea is a close USA ally, animosity between Washington and Pyongyang is still running high. -
Transgender wrestler Mack Beggs wins second Texas girls' state championship
Brandon Mines, agreed with several other parents at the match, maintaining that Beggs should compete with boys instead of girls. Both the NCAA and the Olympics have rules in place that allow athletes to compete as the gender they identify with.Huw beauty as Scotland stun England
The holders never recovered from a dismal opening 40 minutes and Scotland secured their first win over England in a decade. Flyhalf Finn Russell knocked over the penalty and the party could start in earnest in a fevered atmosphere.What we learned from a dominant victory in Memphis
Before the Cavaliers' game against the Washington Wizards, Nance Jr. told the media he'll be wearing No. 22 starting next week. But Mozgov, mind you, is 4 inches taller than Nance. "Oh yeah, yeah I had to apologize, OK", Lue said. "It's huge for us". -
Panthers cut RB Stewart after 10 seasons
Stewart has spent his entire 10-year National Football League career with the Panthers, who drafted him 13 overall in 2008. According to spotrac.com, Stewart earned $47.8 million in his 10 years with Carolina.Syrian army retakes Eastren Ghouta areas in counter-terrorism campaign
Intense fighting has been underway in the area between Turkey's military and Kurdish militias backed by Syrian government forces. But activists said that Damascus , Syria's capital, and the embattled suburb eastern Ghouta appeared relatively calm.Dropbox seeking to raise $500 million in stock market debut
The filing also said co-founder and Chief Executive Drew Houston (pictured) has 24.4 percent of voting power in the company. It raised almost $2 billion in venture capital and reportedly hit a $10 billion valuation on the private market in 2014.