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Rockets lose to Blazers in OT
Posted: November 3, 2012 -- 11:58pm CST..
HOUSTON, TX – So much for James Harden's leading the Rockets to a perfect 82-0 record.
The Portland Trail Blazers (2-1) defeated the Houston Rockets (2-1) 95-85 in overtime Saturday night in front of a very raucous crowd of 18,140 fans.
After scorching the nets in his previous 2 games, newest Rockets player, James Harden, fell from the heavens and back to earth with a mortal 24 points on 8 for 24 field goal shooting. Harden tweaked his ankle in the third quarter; and, he finished the game making just 2 of his final 11 shots from the field.
Harden didn't use the tweaked ankle as an excuse after the game.
“To be honest, yeah, but I don't like to make excuses,” said Harden. “I had opportunities to make plays and to make shots and I just didn't. That's part of basketball. All I can do is get back to the basics, get in the gym and work to be better.”
Both teams played Friday night and both traveled to Houston for tonight's game; and, as a result, Saturday's game was not a pretty game to watch.
“It wasn't the prettiest game today and I think both sides struggled to hit shots," asked Jeremy Lin. "That's the way it goes sometimes.”
The Rockets led 19-17 at the end of the first quarter. Harden scored 10 points in the opening quarter on 4 for 6 field goal shooting.
The Rockets outscored the Blazers 26-20 in the second period. Harden and Lin each scored five points in the period.
The third quarter was "The Nicholas Batum Show". Batum played all 12 minutes in the third; and, he scored 13 points; pulled down 2 rebounds;1 assist; 3 steals; and 2 blocked shots. Batum's 13 points helped the Blazers outscore the Rockets 27-18 in period.
The Rockets trailed the Blazers 64-63 after three periods.
The poor shooting continued in the 4th period. Portland made only 7 of 19 field goal attempts while the Rockets made just 6 of their 17 attempts.
Jeremy Lin converted a tough drive in the paint and the free throw to put the Rockets up 81-78 with 1:17 remaining in the fourth period.
The Blazers worked the ball into LaMarcus Aldridge; but, Aldridge passed the ball out to Wes Matthews. (Matthews was being guarded by Harden.) Matthews swished a three point shot to the game at 81.
Jeremy Lin turned the ball over on the Rockets' next possession; but, the Blazers failed to capitalize.
With the game clock winding down, Harden got the signal from Kevin McHale to spread the floor and beat his man off the court. Harden's step back three-point shot attempt was deflected by Wes Matthews.
OVERTIME.
“It was good defense," Harden admitted. "I lost the ball...good defense.”
Damian Lillard, the Blazers' rookie point guard, started the overtime scoring with a 3-point basket. Harden missed a six-foot shot in the paint; then, coming off a pick, Batum splashed in a three to give the Blazers a six point lead in the extra session.
“I think we missed a lot of shots that we normally hit but they (Portland) did too probably," Jeremy Lin said after the game. "They had the same thing. They played last night and had to travel. We were up with fifty seconds left (in regulation) and a bad turnover by me at a bad time and we don't get a shot, stuff like that. You got to get shots up down the stretch. That is a play that I would like to forget.”
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