Houston Rockets rally late to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-103: NBA Recap
After trailing by 5 points, 84-79, early in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away with a 23-7 burst and with two and a half minutes left on the clock, they appeared to have the game all wrapped up.
The Houston Rockets however thought otherwise.
They connected on five of their next six field goal attempts including a go ahead three by Courtney Lee with 15.1 seconds left on the clock and forced the Thunder into five missed shots and two turnovers to sting them 104-103.
Lee, starting the game in place of injured shooting guard Kevin Martin, scored the last six points in the game deciding 13-1 spurt, and with 15 points in the final 12 minutes, he rounded up the night with 21 points on an 8-of-12
shooting from the field. Chandler Parsons had a career night with 21 points and 6 assists while Luis Scola dropped 18. Goran Drajic and Patrick Patterson had 12 apiece while Chase Budinger chipped in with 10.
Thunder were led by 28 points and 12 rebounds from their talisman Kevin Durant. He was however only 8-of-18 from the floor and also missed a 20 foot jumper that could have won the game at the death. Russell Westbrook had 19 while
James Harden posted 16 points and handed out seven dimes off the bench.
Scott Brooks, the Thunder coach was stunned at the loss and blamed the complacency after opening an 11 point lead for the shock defeat at home, their second in the last three games;
"We thought the game was over. We had major breakdowns on defense. We turned the ball over we gave up a couple of easy buckets. We can't give up layups. It's a breakdown for everybody. We just didn't execute at the end."
The game was a cracker right from the word go. There was nothing to separate the two teams in the first half which ended at 53 apiece. Durant had 18 points in the half while Westbrook had 16. The Rockets first half charge came
from Parsons. The rookie forward went 8-for-11 from the floor, including a perfect 3-on-3 from distance for 19 points.
The trend continued through most part of the third quarter, but a late 8-3 run put the Rockets ahead at 77-71. Nazr Mohammad however made a layup in the closing second to make it 77-74 going into the last 12 minutes.
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