Harden's coast-to-coast lay-up gives Rockets win over the Nuggets

Posted: March 20, 2017 -- 10:52 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden's offense and defense came up huge in the final seconds to help the Houston Rockets eke out a 125-124 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

With 2.4 seconds remaining in the game, Harden's defense against Denver big man Mason Plumlee forced Plumlee to bobble the inbounds pass and resulted in a Nuggets' turnover as Pat Beverley picked up the loose ball and tossed the ball down the court as the game clocked ticked away

Harden's defense seals the win for the #Rockets pic.twitter.com/64mQl61tG2

— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) March 21, 2017

Seconds earlier, Harden rebounded Nuggets' guard Jameer Nelson's airball and raced up the court and finger-rolled in a lay-up. The lay-up proved to be the game-winning basket.

"He (Nelson) airballed; and, I grabbed the rebound. And, I just threw my head down; and, I went. I was going to get that basket.

"Honestly, when I got the three point line, I finally looked up and I just saw a lane; and, I saw the rim; and, I was going to get there."

Harden finished the game with 39 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals which is the third time Harden has posted those numbers since the start of season. The last player to record 39 plus points, 11 plus assists, 7 plus rebounds, and 4 plus steals in at least three games was Michael Jordan.

Over the past nine games, Harden is averaging 33.6 points per game on 50.0% field goal shooting.

Harden and Trevor Ariza each scored 7 points in the first quarter tonight as the Rockets built up a 35-28 lead after the first 12 minutes.

Harden sat the first minutes of the second quarter; and the Nuggets took advantage of Harden's resting. The Nuggets erupted with a 10-1 burst to lead the Rockets 38-36 with 9:59 remaining in the first half.

The game was tied twice in the second quarter; and, the Nuggets (33-37) continued shooting the ball very well in the quarter (12 for 21) to take a 65-62 lead to halftime.

The third quarter was nip and tuck and featured 2 lead changes and 4 ties.

The Rockets trailed the Nuggets 97-94 after three quarters.

Eric Gordon nailed two three-point shots to begin the fourth quarter scoring; then, Pat Beverley hit a three-point shot for a quick 9-0 Rockets run which gave the Rockets a 103-97 lead.

The Rockets (49-22) maintained a lead between 4 and 6 points for nearly five minutes before Denver's Will Barton scored a lay-up to slice the Rockets' lead to three points (109-106) with 5:09 on the clock.

Harden's driving lay-up and Beverley's fourth three-point basket of the game boosted the lead to 7 points (118-111). However, Jameer Nelson nailed a 3 to cut the lead to 118-114. Next, Harden knocked down a 15-foot step back jumper for a 120-114 lead; but, Nikola Jokic scored a lay-up.

After Eric Gordon threw a bad pass, Denver's Juan Hernanogomez tipped in a miss by Jokic with 1:41 remaining. Harden nailed a three-pointer; but, Barton swished a three-point shot of his own to trim the lead to 123-121 with 1:28 remaining.

After a Rockets' turnover, Barton banked in a runner and was fouled. Barton made the free throw for a 124-123 Nuggets' lead with just 42.1 seconds remaining in the game.

Harden missed a driving lay-up with 31.9 seconds on the clock; but, the Rockets played solid defense on Denver's possession. The solid defense led to Nelson's 21-foot airball which Harden rebounded and raced coast-to-coast for the go-ahead (and game-winning) basket.

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