Rockets edge Raptors, 112-109

Posted: March 25, 2016 -- 10:48 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- James Harden continued his sensational streak of stellar play Friday night; but, unlike the last three ball games, Harden received enough help from his teammates which resulted in a 112-109 Rockets' win over the Toronto Raptors.

"We have to impose our will on people," J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. "We have to force teams to play the style that we want to play. You can get those teams that aren't used to playing at that speed; and, you speed them up a little bit. It changes things for them."

Harden recorded his third triple-double of this season (9th of his career) with 32 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds. All 9 of Harden's triple-doubles have come in a Rockets' uniform; and, the Rockets are 8-1 in the games.

Michael Beasley helped Harden with 21 points in 27 minutes, 57 seconds. Beasley made 9 of his 12 field goal attempts and pulled down five boards. Beasley has scored in double-digits in nine straight games and is the Rockets second-leading scorer in that span with a 16.6 points per game average on 57.0% field goal shooting.

In addition to Beasley's 21 bench points, Corey Brewer scored 10; Clint Capela scored 8 and Jason Terry added 5 points.

The Rockets (36-37) led 29-21 after the first quarter; but, the Raptors got hot in the second quarter and made 6 of 12 three-points and 14 for 26 field goals overall to outscore the Rockets 37-25 in the period to take a 58-54 lead into halftime.

Harden scored a floater in the paint to start the scoring in the third for the Rockets. After a basket by Motiejunas cut the Rockets' deficit to 61-58, Harden was fouled while attempting a three-point shot. Harden made all three free throws to tie the game at 61.

Motiejunas rattled in a three-point shot to put the Rockets up 64-63; but, former Rockets' forward Luis Scola swished a three-point shot. However, Harden tied the game at 66 with a floater.

Harden scored 11 points (4 for 6 field goals) in the third quarter; and, the Rockets' defense limited the Raptors to only 6 baskets out of 17 attempts in the quarter.

Harden ended the quarter with a step-back 12-foot jump shot for 2.

The Rockets outscored the Raptors 25-20 in the third and led 79-78 after three quarters.

Jason Terry drained a 21-foot to begin the fourth quarter. Terry's basket began a 13-2 run by the Rockets for a 92-80 lead with 9:18 remaining in the ball game.

Bickerstaff used a small lineup in the second-half which had Beasley at center; Corey Brewer and Trevor Ariza at the forward spots; and Harden and Beverley in the back court.

The lineup worked.

"That lineup for us was key," Harden said. "We're so quick and athletic. It gives us an opportunity to kind of fly around defensively and get into passing lanes and get out in transition. That small lineup helped us win."

"We went small ball,' Beverley said. "Brew(er) was able to get some attacks. Trev (Ariza) was able to get some attacks. Like I said, everybody was able to get a piece of the pie."

The Raptors (48-23) responded with an 11-3 run to reduce the Rockets' lead to 95-91 with 6:39 remaining.

Brewer scored a lay-up then dished to Ariza who sank a three-point shot (Ariza's first basket of the game - after 6 misses) for a 100-91 lead.

The Raptors inched within six points twice; but, on the second occasion, after scoring a lay-up, DeMar DeRozan picked up two technical fouls and was ejected.

"I didn't think I was going to get a second T (technical foul) being honest," DeRozan said. "But, he called it; and, I have to deal with it and move on."

Harden split the free throws for a 104-97 Rockets' lead with 2:55 remaining.

With 2:01 on the game clock, Beasley scored a lay-up for an eight point lead (107-99).

Neither team scored the next 60 seconds.

Raptors' big man Jonas Valanciunas scored a lay-up with 1 minute remaining.

Patrick Beverley was whistled for an offensive foul; and, the Raptors' offensive possession, Lowry, while attempting a three-point shots, picked up the sixth foul on Dwight Howard. Lowry missed the first two free throws before making the third foul shot.

The Rockets led 107-102 with 35.5 seconds on the clock.

Lowry fouled James Harden with 25.6 seconds remaining; and, apparently, Lowry said something referee Tyler Ford did not like and Ford gave Lowry his second technical of the game (Lowry's first technical foul happened with 3:30 left in the first quarter).

Ariza made the technical foul; and, Harden made the two foul shots for a 110-102 lead.

The Rockets got sloppy the next 15 seconds which allowed the Raptors to score 5 points and reduce the lead to 110-107 with 10.1 seconds remaining.

Ariza was fouled; and, he made both free throws.

Toronto's Cory Joseph scored lay-up with 3.9 remaining.

Corey Brewer received an inbounds pass and raced up court before he was fouled with 0.5 seconds left in the game. Brewer missed both free throws; but, the Rockets hung on for the much needed victory.

With the win tonight, the Rockets sweep a season series versus the Raptors, 2-0, for the first time since 2002-2003.

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