James Harden carries Houston Rockets to a 101-89 win over Boston Celtics: NBA Recap
James Harden scored 21 points to help Houston Rockets top Boston Celtics 101-89 here at the Toyota Center Friday night. Houston have now won 8
of their last 10 home games.
"I was in the right spots at the right time. ... [The Celtics] are harsh on ball-handlers. They're going to show hard, and then the slip [to the basket] is right there. You roll, and of course, the rim is going to be open every
time." Greg Smith commented who came off the bench to add 20 points and grab 6 rebounds in 8 out of 9 shooting from the floor.
Chandler Parsons added 15 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 8 assists while Omer Asik had 9 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets.
Rajon Rondo had another day at the double-double office with 15 points and 13 assists but committed a season high 7 turnovers in the process. Paul Pierce collected 18 points and 7 rebounds while Kevin Garnett had 14.
The home side got off to a great start; Patrick Patterson nailed a three pointer to put them up 9-2. Rockets were on a roll early and a Harden jumper had them up 17-4 near the mid quarter mark. Houston were leading 23-13 with 2:45
left in the quarter when the Celtics came back and Jason Terry knocked down a three pointer to reduce the deficit to 19-25 late.
Greg Smith made a jump shot early in the second period to put the Rockets up by 29-21 and Carlos Delfino sank a three pointer a minute later to push their lead to 9 points. However Boston were not that far behind and went for a
quick fire 13 nil spurt to snatch the lead in style, 36-32. Paul Pierce added 5 more to push Celtics up to 41-34 before the Rockets scored some baskets later in the period to make it a 2 point game at 43-45 at halftime.
Houston came out strong in the third period and a Harden shot from behind the arc had them leading 52-47. They started pulling ahead and a Parsons hook shot put them up 63-54 around the mid quarter mark. A late flurry of three
pointers extended Rockets lead to 75-66 before the Celtics scored the last 4 points of the quarter to cut the gap.
A Toney Douglas layup early in the fourth period pushed their lead to 81-72. The Celtics tried hard and a Pierce three pointer made it a 5 point game with 5:09 on the regulation but the Rockets went on rampage with a 13-2 run to
jump up 101-85 with a minute left on the regulation. That proved to be the killer blow.
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