Updated, 1:25 a.m. -- November 8, 2013.
Posted: November 8, 2013 -- 12:18 am CST.
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Steve Blake splashed in a wide open three-open shot with 1.3 seconds to give the Los Angeles Lakers an improbable victory; but, more importantly, give the Houston Rockets an improbable 99-98 defeat in front of an announced sellout crowd of 18,133 fans.
Blake was open thanks to a double-screen. Dwight Howard failed to step out to challenge Blake's shot and Blake nailed the shot.
"Guys just kind of messed up on the play," said Dwight Howard. "It happens."
The Rockets trailed the Lakers 36-19 at the end of the first quarter and 64-50 at halftime. The Lakers rained three-point baskets from the sky and sank 11 of their 14 three-point attempts in the opening 24 minutes.
"We weren't very good defensively in the first half," said Kevin McHale after the ball game.
James Harden scored 20 first-half points -- thanks to 11 for 13 shooting from the free throw line. Harden was just 4 for 12 from the floor; and, overall, the Rockets clanged their way to 15 to 43 (34.9%) field goal shooting in the first half while the Lakers shot 50% (24 for 48).
The Rockets' defense improved in the third quarter (and the Lakers' crashed back to reality from three-point range with 3 for 11 shooting) and limited the Lakers to just 6 for 22 field goal shooting.
The Rockets trimmed the deficit to just four points (81-77) after three quarters.
Omri Casspi rattled in a three-point shot to cut the deficit to 81-80. Minutes later, James Harden tied the game at 84 with a finger roll. Wesley Johnson sank a jumper to put the Lakers up 86-84.
Harden nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 91. Then, at the 3:52 mark, Harden dished to Chandler Parsons for a two-hand dunk to give the Rockets the lead for the first time since leading 2-0.
After Johnson missed a jump shot, the Lakers began a "Hack-a-Howard". Howard split four free throws for a 95-91 lead with 3:10 remaining. Johnson missed another three-point attempt; and, Howard was fouled once again. This time, he sank both foul shots for a 97-91 Rockets' lead with 2:40 left in the game.
The Lakers turned over the ball; and, fouled Howard once again. Howard clanged both attempts.
Steve Nash sank two free throws; then, Howard was sent to the foul line once again. Howard missed the first and made the second for a 98-93 lead.
Jodie Meeks swished a three to trim the Rockets' lead to 98-96 with 1:46 remaining.
With 53.8 remaining, for some unknown reason, Parsons threw an inbound pass to Howard. Howard stepped to the line; and, bricked both foul shots. (He finished the second half 5 for 12 from the foul line.)
"I have to get back into the gym and continue the work and they will fall," Howard said after the game.
To Howard's credit, he bounced back on defense to block Wesley Johnson's shot attempt at the basket. The ball wedged into the rim forcing a jump ball. Howard won the tip to set up an isolation play for Harden.
Harden missed a 18-foot jump shot; and, Pau Gasol rebounded the missed shot with 10.9 seconds remaining. After a timeout, the Lakers fumbled the ball around for seven seconds before the ball went out of bounds off the rockets.
Twenty-second time-out, Lakers. 3.4 seconds left.
After the time-out, Blake freed himself off the screens and swished the three-point shot.
Blake described the play to set up the winning basket, "Well Jodie wasn't supposed to throw the ball where he threw it, but that’s ok because we had to make up for each others’ mistakes. Steve (Nash) and I were on the top and kind of circled each other and tried to see if we could get them to make a mistake; and when I saw the opportunity to pop out, and then Dwight (Howard) was closing out on me. Then, I was able to make a shot. I felt like the shot was good, but you really don’t know until it goes in. It felt clean. I shot the ball with confidence; and man, thank God for the opportunity. That’s probably the best shot I've made in my career. I've never quite made a shot like that. It would have been better if the buzzer was going off when it went in, but it was just a great team effort."
Timeout, Rockets.
Patrick Beverly tried to get the ball to Harden; but, the ball bounded back to Beverly who launched a desperation shot at the buzzer. No Good.
Rockets lose.
