Harden's monster game leads Rockets over Lakers

Updated: December 14, 2018 -- 8:49 a.m.

Posted: December 13, 2018 -- 10:30 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden put on a show Thursday night; and, thanks to Harden's Herculean performance, the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 126-111.

Harden scored 50 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and handed out 11 assists for his second triple-double this season; and, his FOURTH fifty-point triple-double in his NBA career. No other NBA players has accomplished the feat.

Harden set the tone early with a drive, dunk over LA's JaVale McGee and flex followed by a four-point play during a 9-0 Rockets' run:

"I was like 'wow'. I've never seen James (Harden) like that, especially finishing for a dunk," Clint Capela said. "He had a dunk on Draymond Green last year in the playoffs, but that one was really bad, and then he started flexing, and I was like 'wow'. I've never seen him like this in five years, so that was something, and it sent a message to everybody on the team to wake up. That was great, that was great. I was the closest (person) in all of the arena; so, I still have it in my head."

Houston led 14-6; but, the Lakers tied the game at 14. The Rockets led 29-24 after the first quarter. Harden scored 13 points in the first. LeBron James scored 9 to lead the Lakers. Rockets had a 10-0 on the offensive boards.

The Rockets took a 62-56 into halftime. The Lakers 59.0% (23/40) from the floor and 42.9% (6/14) from foul line while the Rockets 45.7 fg% (21/46) and 78.6 ft% (12/15). 19 points for Harden. 18 points for LeBron.

Houston outrebounded the Lakers 23-16 in the first half. The Rockets outrebounded the Lakers 54-44 in its win on October 20.

The Rockets led 90-88 after three quarters. Harden had 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 turnovers after three quarters.

The Lakers led 101-99 before Houston forwards Danuel House, Jr and Gerald Green knocked down corner threes from opposite corners to put the Rockets on top 105-101.

A dunk in transition by House, Jr. put the Rockets up 107-101. The Lakers pulled within three points two times in the final six minutes of the game. However, Harden scored 15 points in the last 4:57 to put the game away.

"I just tried to make good plays honestly," Harden said matter-of-fact. "Like I've been saying, over and over, were in the hole right now, we got to find a way to get out this hole, and we will. Me and Chris (Paul) are the leaders, we have to go out there and play well, and put ourselves in the position every single night. That's what we have on the line."

Harden's 50 points led five Rockets in double-digit scoring: Clint Capela scored 16; Danuel House, Jr.; scored 15; Chris Paul scored 14; and, Eric Gordon scored 13.

"You can't put him on the line," LeBron James said. "We put him on the line 20 (19) times. He's already talented. He can put the ball in the hole multiple ways, he can drive, step-back threes, and when you give him easy points and put a guy like him on the line, you can't put KD (Kevin Durant) on the free throw line, you can't put him (James Harden) on the line for 20 (19) free throws, or any of the scorers in the league on the line 20 (19) times."

Houston made 42 of 85 field goal attempts including 15 for 34 three-point shots. The Rockets also shot 27 for 32 from the foul line.

"It started with fouling to giving up free throws, and those are easy points for him (James Harden)," Luke Walton, Lakers Head Coach said. "He’s one of the best free throw shooters in the league, and if you hit a three late, and then all of a sudden you feel in a rhythm, not that he wasn't in a rhythm before, but that was the start of it, and then he hit a couple of tough ones. He’s a superstar and he makes tough shots, but that whole thing started with us giving him three free throws at the end."

The Lakers also had five players score in double-digits. LeBron James scored a team-high 29 points. Kyle Kuzma scored 24. Lance Stephenson scored 17 off the point. Josh Hart scored 15; and, JaVale McGee scored 11.

The Lakers shot 43 for 80 from the floor (10 for 32 from three; and 15 for 27 form the foul line.

Houston improves to 13-14. The Lakers are 17-11.

NEXT

The Rockets' next game is Saturday, December 15, at Memphis, versus the Grizzlies. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

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