Rockets defeat the Spurs 108-101

Posted: December 23, 2018 -- 7:45 a.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets made clutch plays in the final two minutes to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 108-101 Saturday night. With the win, the Rockets take a 2-1 lead in the season series vs. San Antonio with one game remaining at Houston on March 22. The Rockets have won six of their past seven games after losing three straight prior. San Antonio has its three-game winning streak snapped and falls to 5-11 on the road this season.

Houston (17-15) led 86-69 early in the 4th period; however, the Spurs (18-16) took a 97-96 lead when forward Rudy Gay sank a corner three-point shot for a 97-96 lead. James Harden sank a three-pointer to put the Rockets ahead 99-97. Then, Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan tied the game at 99 with 2:22 remaining.

On Houston's next possession, Harden missed a three-point shot attempt; however, teammate Clint Capela kept the possession alive with an offensive rebound. Gerald Green missed a three-point shot; but, P.J. Tucker grabbed another offensive rebound. Tucker dished to Eric Gordon; and, Gordon knocked down a 27-foot three-point shot for 102-99 Rockets' lead with 1:48 on the clock.

Green blocked a shot attempt by Spurs' guard Derrick White; and, Harden drained a step back three-pointer for a six point lead. The Spurs did not score; and, Harden put the game away when, with 39.4 seconds remaining, he made three free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot attempt.

"We made some mental mistakes and we missed some shots," Harden said of the fourth quarter. "We missed some shots, and they came down, and made some shots, and that's the game of basketball. We held our composure, Clint (Capela), P.J. (Tucker), D-House (Danuel House Jr.), Gerald (Green), those guys did a really good job on offensive rebounds, then Eric (Gordon) comes down and hits a three off an offensive rebound, and then I tried to make some big shots. But no matter what, teams are going to make runs, we have to keep our composure, get great shots and the shots that we want."

Clint Capela (23) and P.J. Tucker (16) combined for 39 rebounds. Houston outrebounded the Spurs 58-43. Capela also scored 21 points for his second 20/20 game this season.

"Yeah, we definitely have to defend and rebound," Tucker acknowledged. "Last game was so bad we just didn't want to come in that way and give up offensive rebounds and lose that way again. We know if we get stops, we get the offensive going on the break, and were pretty tough. So, it's something we always look to do."

James Harden had game-highs of 39 points and 10 assists, marking his fourth double-double over the past six games and his 11th overall this season. Harden has scored 30 or more points in six straight games for the first time in his career. The last Rocket to score 30+ points in six consecutive games was Tracy McGrady from December 29, 2006 to January 8, 2007.

Eric Gordon added 18 points and 6 assists. Green scored 15 points off the bench. Green was 5 for 13 from three-point range.

Houston led 28-26 after the first quarter; but, scored only 13 points in the second quarter and trailed 43-41 at halftime. The Rockets erupted for 43 points in the third quarter.

"On the first six minutes of the third quarter, we just did a poor job," Gregg Popovich, Spurs Head Coach said. "But, overall, the killer was the offensive boards. (Clint) Capela was great. He probably had 18-20 (21) points. He had to have at least 20 (23) rebounds. I didn't look at the stat sheet yet, but that was the killer."

"I mean, we made shots," Mike D'Antoni said. "I don't know if it's a simple answer, but a lot of it is that, and then we cut off that energy. I thought our defense was good all the way from the first quarter on to give ourselves a chance, but the bench stepped up. Gary Clark came in, (and) gave us a good eight minutes and Gerald (Green) hit 5 for 5 threes at one point. You know, you have to have that. James (Harden) can't do it all, and that gave him a little bit of a breather, so that he could finish the game up."

The win over the Spurs is the Rockets' first win without Chris Paul in the lineup. Houston was 0-5 without Paul prior to Saturday's win.

"I didn't even know that stat," Tucker said. "So, I never thought about it; but, whoever is ready to play, we have to play. Win, lose, or draw we just have to try to win period. At this point every single game matters, every game counts so whoever is ready, next man up, and (be) ready to play."

NOTES:

The Rockets hit 19 3-pointers Saturday night while holding the Spurs to 10 Over the past three games, Houston has more than twice as many 3-point field goals as the opposition (63-29). The Rockets had 54 3-point attempts tonight and become the first team in NBA history to record 50 or more 3-point attempts in three straight games. It is the 27th time Houston has recorded 50 plus 3-point attempts, all coming since the start of the 2016-17 season. The rest of the NBA had 10 games doing all-time entering tonight.

NEXT

The Rockets' next game is Christmas Day, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, on ABC. Tip is set for 2 p.m.

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