Rockets hold on to defeat Raptors 121-119

Posted: January 25, 2019 -- 11:59 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- In a game featuring many runs, defense was the deciding factor in the Houston Rockets' 121-119 win over the Toronto Raptors. In the final seconds of the game, James Harden played great defense on Toronto's Kawhi Leonard which resulted in an airballed three-point attempt at the final buzzer.

"Sit down and guard," Harden said very matter-of-fact after the game.

Houston (28-20) won tonight despite shooting 21.7% from 3-point range after winning at New York on 1/23 while shooting 25.0% from behind-the-arc.

In the final 67 seconds, the Rockets' 121-110 lead disappeared. In bizarre fashion.

First, Leonard made a three-point shot to cut the lead to 121-113. Then, Harden lost the ball for a turnover. Next, Leonard and teammate Kyle Lowry bricked three-point shots off the backboard; but, after each brick, Paschal Siakam managed to grab the rebound. Ultimately, Danny Green swished a corner three to cut the Rockets' lead to 121-116 with 36.4 seconds on the clock.

Then, half a second later, Eric Gordon caught the ball and stepped out bounds. Siakam swished a three-pointer with 27.3 seconds remaining; therefore, the lead was sliced to two points, 121-119 with 27.3 seconds on the game clock.

The Rockets still had the lead and possession of the ball; but, with 20 seconds remaining, Gordon jacked up a three-point shot and missed. Siakam pulled down the rebound and the Raptors called timeout with 15.9 seconds on the clock to set up the final play - which Harden snuffed out to clinch the victory and avoid a disastrous collapse.

"Obviously, everybody saw it, except the people who leave early, maybe they won't do that next time; but, everybody saw what happened," Mike D'Antoni said after the game. "We made mistakes, kind of a hangover from New York. We're going to fix that, that'll be fixed. Things happen; but, it's not going to take away what we did the whole game."

The Rockets, in many parts of the game, played great basketball. Houston used a 13-0 run in the first quarter to lead 21-8. Houston led by as much as 15 in the first period and led 33-20 at the end of the first quarter.

A 15-6 run to start the second quarter boosted Houston's lead to 22 points (48-26) with 8:11 until halftime. Toronto went on a 14-4 run to trail 52-40; then, a 14-8 Raptors' spurt reduced Houston's lead to 60-54 with 2:20 on the clock.

Houston led 70-61 at halftime.

With a 74-70 lead in the third quarter, the Rockets erupted for a 18-4 run to lead 92-74; but, once again, the Raptors with a 10-0 run. The Rockets led 96-89 after three quarters.

In the fourth period, Houston led 99-94 before scoring 14 straight points to lead 113-94 5:53 on the clock. Newest Rocket, Kenneth Faried, scored 5 points, pulled down 1 board, and blocked 1 shot during the run. Faried finished the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

"It's fun to play basketball, like I said. I love playing the game," Faried commented. "So. for me, anytime I get to step out there and showcase my talents. We're such a talented team. It's just even easier and fun for me."

In his three games with the Rockets, Faried is averaging 15.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.67 blocks in 29.0 minutes per game as a Rocket while shooting 62.1% from the floor.

Toronto (36-15) clawed back into the game with an 11-2 run and trailed 115-105 with 1:58 remaining. Houston's lead hovered between 9 and 11 points the next 44 seconds before the frantic finish.

"Things happen," D'Antoni said. "But, it's not going to take away what we did the whole game. The defense we played (and) the loose balls we got, the energy that (Kenneth) Faried and different guys on the board did. What PJ (Tucker) did on (Kawhi) Leonard – his defense. So, you know what – we'll fix this other stuff. I'll take that every time if it means a meltdown towards the end, we'll get that."

James Harden had a game-high 35 points, extending his streak of scoring 30 or more to 22 games (fourth-longest in NBA history).

Eric Gordon scored 24 points. PJ Tucker scored 18 points - 7 for 11 field goals (4 for 8 threes). Austin Rivers scored 13 points and added 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

"Every single night is not going to be great," said Harden. "But, we tell the guys: 'shoot our shots'. Shoot the shots that we want and that we practiced. Sometimes, they are going to go in. Sometimes, they are not; and, tonight, they went in. But, just defensively, our energy was amazing, especially out the gate from the beginning of the game. We were aggressive; and, we got into them."

NOTES:

The last time the Rockets won consecutive games when shooting below 25.0% or worse from downtown was from 11/14-11/16/14.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game is Sunday, January 27, versus the Orlando Magic. Tip is set for 6 p.m.

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