Heat edge Rockets, 113-110

Posted: November 12, 2012 -- 11:56pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) – After spotting the Miami Heat a 22-5 lead, the Houston Rockets clawed back into the game and led by eight points in the fourth quarter. But, in the end, LeBron James put his teammates on his back and willed the Heat to a thrilling 113-110 victory Monday night in front of a sold out crowd.

Rockets forward Chandler Parsons said after the game, “It’s tough. That’s the best team in the NBA and we were right there. Obviously we feel like we should’ve won that game. It’s tough to swallow right now. It’s very tough but we competed for 48 minutes tonight and we really put ourselves in a position to win the game.”

Chris Bosh scored 10 points in the first seven minutes of the game as he schooled Rockets' big man Omer Asik with perimeter jump shots and pump fakes which led to dunks.

The Rockets (3-4) trailed the Heat (6-2) 22-5 with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter; but, Patrick Patterson scored a layup which began an 11-0 run by the Rockets to pull within six points (22-16). The first quarter ended with the Rockets down 25-19.

Dwyane Wade scored six Miami points in the first 3 plus minutes of the second quarter to boost the Rockets' deficit to 11 points (37-26); but, Asik proved a nightmare for the Heat to defend as he scored 11 points (2 for 4 from the field and 7 for 10 from the foul line) in second period.

The Rockets shot 52.6% in the second period and outscored the Heat 33-29 to trail by only four (56-52) at the half.

Trailing 69-62 in the third quarter, Carlos Delfino drained back-to-back three-point shots during a 13-4 run by the Rockets and the Rockets took a 75-73 lead.

After scoring only 2 points in the first half, LeBron erupted for 16 points in the third quarter -- including a 22-foot jump to tie the game at 75. Harden scored four of the Rockets last 10 points in the third period to help the Rockets lead 85-82 after three periods.

Chandler Parsons (5 points) and Asik (4 points) combined for nine points to help the Rockets lead grow to 94-86 with 9:09 remaining in the game.

LeBron drained a three.

Parsons scored a layup.

Bosh made a 13-foot jump shot.

Delfino sank a long two-point shot.

LeBron made a layup; but, Marcus Morris nailed a 3-point shot to help the Rockets keep the Heat at arms' length with a 101-93 lead with 6:13 left in the ball game.

LeBron drained his fourth three-point basket of the game to cut the Rockets' lead to five points (101-96) at the 5:11 mark of the 4th.

Patterson made a layup; but, Bosh answered with two free throws then a dunk to trim the lead to 103-100 with three plus minutes to go.

Patterson split two free throws; then, two teams combined for four consecutive three-point baskets. The Rockets' lead was 110-106 with 1:29 left in the exciting ball game.

LeBron split two free-throws; but, the Rockets went into 'iso-ball' with James Harden and Harden did not make a single basket in the final 78 seconds.

LeBron made two free throws; then, beat a Rockets' double-team for a baseline layup to give the Heat a 111-110 lead with 18.6 on the clock.

The Rockets executed a great half-court set out of the time out: Harden passed cross-court to Parsons; Parsons passed to a wide open Jeremy Lin. Lin launched a 24-foot three-point shot attempt; unfortunately, the shot landed about 2 feet short of the basket.

“It didn't come off right. It didn't feel good," said Lin. "Obviously it’s my responsibility to hit that shot. It was a good shot for me, a quality shot and it didn't go in for me today unfortunately in a crucial play of the game.”

Wade grabbed the airball and was fouled; however, Wade missed both foul shots. Chris Bosh grabbed the missed shot forcing the Rockets to foul him with 7.1 seconds. Bosh made both free throws for a 113-110 Heat lead.

After a timeout, Harden continued his iso-ball style -- this time against LeBron James. LeBron went for none of the fakes; and, forced Harden into a step-back three-point shot attempt to tie the game. The shot fell short and the Heat escaped Houston with a win.

Chandler Parsons led the Rockets with a career-high 25 points (8 for 17 from the field, including 5 for 10 from three). Harden added 22 points and five assists. Asik scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

LeBron finished the game with 38 points -- 32 in the second half.

“I just got prepared because I knew it was going to be a tough second half," LeBron acknowledged. "I was just happy and glad I was able to make a few plays and help our team win. I came out more aggressive in the second half and coach ran a play for me right at the start and I was able to get it going a little bit. My team needed me to score a little more tonight and I just tried to take control of the offense.”

Bosh added 24 points and 10 rebounds; Wade scored 19 and dished a game-high seven assists.

“Great game," Kelvin Sampson said after the game. "LeBron was hitting some unbelievable shots. I give our team credit for answering and they kept answering. They have a possession where they can't get a whole lot going. Marcus or Chandler or Carlos couldn't get it going. That was a tough fight where both teams were just fighting. They got the last punch in and I'm disappointed that we lost.”

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