NBA wrap: Rockets ends Warriors' 14-game road winning streak

The Rockets blew a 17-point lead, but James Harden hit a late 3-pointer and blocked a shot to seal the win for Houston.

Published : Jan 21, 2018 13:47 IST

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates a three point shot against Golden State Warriors during an NBA game.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates a three point shot against Golden State Warriors during an NBA game.
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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates a three point shot against Golden State Warriors during an NBA game.

The Rockets are insisting Saturday's 116-108 win over the Warriors means absolutely nothing, but it certainly feels like something.

Houston won the season series over the Warriors (2-1) with the victory. By doing so without its best defender on the court in Trevor Ariza, the Rockets showed it have what it takes to be a legitimate contender to the Warriors in the Western Conference.

Now, can it beat them in a seven-game series? Maybe not, but the Rockets certainly have all of the tools to compete with the defending champs in a potential Western Conference finals.

"We can play a little bit," Chris Paul told ESPN following the game. "It's not anything big or anything like that, I mean, it's January for god sakes, you know what I mean? So, thank God we came out healthy."

The only question health-wise for the Rockets was James Harden who is just two games removed from missing seven games with a leg injury. The MVP candidate is on a minutes restriction for Houston, but as the clock wound down Saturday, Harden was still on the court, and for good reason. He hit the 3-pointer that put Houston up two possessions late in the game.

Harden finished with 22 points and eight assists. Paul had 33 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

STUDS OF THE NIGHT

Oklahoma City's Big 3 looked more like a Big 4 in a 148-124 win over the Cavaliers. Paul George had 36 points and seven rebounds, Carmelo Anthony had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 20 assists and nine rebounds, and Stephen Adams had 25 points and 10 rebounds on 12-of-13 shooting.

Read: Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre Jr. lead Wizards past Pistons

Raptors guard Kyle Lowry scored 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting with five rebounds and five assists but it wasn't enough to avoid a 115-109 loss to the Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins had 29 points to lead Minnesota.

Clippers guard Lou Williams had 31 points, 10 steals (yes steals) and seven assists in Los Angeles' 125-113 loss to the Jazz.

DUD OF THE NIGHT

Rockets guard Eric Gordon was incredibly hot from the floor on Thursday, but Saturday was a different story as he went 2-of-14 shooting and 0 for 9 from 3-point range. He scored six points in 35 minutes.

HIGHLIGHT

It's not Madison Square Garden and it's not Reggie Miller, but Miami's James Johnson scored five points in four seconds to tie the game at 104-104 with 31 seconds remaining in the game in the Heat's 105-104 win over the Hornets.

WHAT'S NEXT

Pacers (24-22) at Spurs (30-17) — Victor Oladipo is must-watch TV every night for the Pacers and the Spurs are the best-coached team in the NBA. Put those two together and you have a very watchable basketball game.

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