Harden's 47 points helps Rockets defeat the Utah Jazz

Posted: December 17, 2018 -- 11:30 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden delivered another huge performance and helped the Rockets defeat the Utah Jazz 102-97 Monday night.

James Harden finished the game with 47 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. It's the second time Harden has recorded at least 45 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a single game (vs. Portland on 11/18/15). The last player to post multiple games with that stat line was Michael Jordan (3 times); and, since Harden entered the NBA in 2009-10, the rest of the league has accumulated two of those games (LeBron James on 2/6/10 and Anthony Davis on 10/26/16). Harden is averaging 34.6 points on 48.1% shooting over the past 15 games.

The Jazz made one final push and pulled within 99-97 of the Rockets before Harden knocked down a three-point shot with 13.3 seconds remaining to give the Rockets a 5 point lead. Utah did not score in the final seconds.

Houston won despite shooting 37.2% from the floor, being outrebounded 52-39, and having more turnovers (17) than assists (16).

The Rockets opened the game with an 8-2 lead. Houston led 25-23 at the end of the first quarter. The Rockets scored the first 10 points of the second quarter and led by as much as 18 (50-32) in the second period.

Houston led 50-37 at halftime. Utah began the third quarter with a 12-2 run and eventually took a 58-57 lead before Harden scored 9 consecutive points on two three-point plays and a three-point basket.

The Rockets increased the lead to 74-64; and, during the run, Harden finished a drive to the hoop with a right hand slam over Utah big man Rudy Gobert.

Houston led 83-73 after three quarters and increased the margin to 12 (87-75); but, once again, Utah responded. The Jazz went on a 13-3 run to pull within two (90-88) with 5:31 remaining in the ball game.

James Harden made a 13-foot jump shot. Rudy Gobert dunked. Houston's Chris Paul scored a driving lay-up. Donovan Mitchell scored a driving lay-up. Then, after Gobert scored on an offensive rebound, the game was tied at 94 with 1:59 on the clock.

Harden answered with a three-point basket; then, after the Jazz did not score, Harden made two of 3 free throws after he was fouled attempting a three point shot. Houston led 99-94 with 54.6 seconds left in the game.

Next, Mitchell was fouled on a three-point shot attempt. Mitchell made all three free throws to trim Houston's lead to 99-97 with 35 seconds on the game clock.

One more time, Harden answered the bell and delivered the clutch three-point shot with 13 seconds remaining to ice the game.

"I don't know if you call it pacing because I am always aggressive for the most part," Harden said in the locker room. "But, throughout the course of a game, you figure out what works and what doesn't work. Some things you put in your back pocket and, late in the game, you know that if you get those opportunities you capitalize on them, and so it's a game within a game. You have to figure out what works for you."

NOTES:

Clint Capela had 5 points tonight, snapping his 27-game streak of scoring in double-figures. However, Capela grabbed 14 rebounds with season-highs of 5 blocks and 3 steals. It is his second career game with 14+ boards, 5+ blocks and 3+ steals (vs. New Orleans on 3/24/18). Prior to that, the last Rocket to post those numbers in a single game was Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Denver on 4/14/98.

P.J. Tucker had 16 points tonight after scoring 14 points at Memphis on 12/15. He scored in double-figures twice over the previous 10 games. The last time Tucker scored 14+ points in consecutive games was for Phoenix from 11/27-11/30/16. Tucker shot 4-of-7 from 3-point range tonight and is shooting 10-of-20 from behind-the-arc over the past three games after shooting 3-of-15 the four games prior. He has already hit 4 or more threes five times this season after doing so four times in 2017-18 (twice over his first five seasons combined).

Chris Paul fell just shy of his second straight double-double with 11 points and a game-high 9 assists. Over the past five games, he has 46 assists and 13 steals with just 10 turnovers. Paul has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.07 in the Rockets 15 wins this season compared to a 2.18 ratio in the nine losses he’s appeared

NEXT

The Rockets' next game is Wednesday, December 19, vs the Washington Wizards. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.