Harden scores 58 in Rockets 121-118 come-from-behind win over the Miami Heat

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

Posted: February 28, 2019 -- 11:59 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets erased a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes to come-from-behind and defeat the Miami Heat 121-118 Thursday night.

The Rockets trailed 113-103 with 6:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. James Harden scored 10 of his game-high 58 points during a 14-0 run which gave the Rockets a 117-113 lead 2:46 remaining.

Harden's 58 points is the highest single game total by an opposing player in Miami's franchise history. Harden has now scored 50 or more points six times this season and 15 times for his career, which is the fifth-highest total in NBA history. Harden also had 10 assists tonight. He has recorded 50 or more points and 10 or more assists and NBA record seven times in his career, including three this season.

Chris Paul scored the last 4 points of the game for the Rockets with two free throws and a clutch 15-foot pull jumper in the paint. Paul rebounded a missed three-point shot attempt by Harden before scoring the clutch basket seconds later.

According to Harden, the key to the Rockets' comeback was more aggressive defense.

"More aggressive, we were lackadaisical on defense, especially in that first half, that second quarter," Harden said. "They gained confidence in knocking down shots and they were just too comfortable. So, we had to pick up the pressure a little bit (in) the second half. (We needed to) create some turnovers and energy with our defense; and, we did that."

The Heat (27-34) shot 54.3% (25 for 46) in the first half and led the Rockets 69-55 at halftime.

The Rockets (37-25) trailed 82-61 with 8:44 remaining in the third period. Harden scored 12 of Houston's next 25 points to close out the third quarter. Harden scored 17 of the Rockets' 31 points in the third.

Houston forward PJ Tucker was whistled for two technicals and ejected with three minutes 30 seconds left in the third quarter. Houston trailed 88-79 at the time of Tucker's ejection. The Rockets trailed the Heat 98-86 at the end of the quarter.

Austin Rivers scored 8 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. Rivers, Gerald Green, and Harden played the entire fourth quarter.

In his final regular season game against the Rockets, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade knocked down a 15-foot fadeaway shot to reduce Houston's lead to 119-118 with 2:03 left in the ball game. Miami did not score the rest of the game. Miami missed two free throws and four field goal attempts in the final 2:03.

"Gut check. We just kept grinding," Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni said of the win. "Kept grinding, kept grinding, and they played great. They (Miami Heat) seemed like they hit every shot and played well; but, the fourth quarter we held them to 20 points and really got after it. I just really think it was a big win for us. Just for a lot of reasons – spirit wise, we did it the right way. We got into them defensively. We were shorthanded back to back. This is a character win and when you get in the playoff, that's what counts. Character and brains – and we had both of them tonight."

With Eric Gordon (sore leg), Kenneth Faried (left hip contusion), and Iman Shumpert (sore right calf) out of tonight's lineup, Rockets rookie forward Gary Clark was inserted into the starting lineup. Clark scored a career-high 14 points.

After the game, Clark said he thought Coach D'Antoni was joking with him before the game when D'Antoni told Clark he was starting.

Clark did not play in any of the past five games and hadn't scored since having 6 points against the Lakers on January 19.

With the win tonight, the Rockets split the season series against the Heat 1-1 and have won five of their past six at home vs. Miami. Houston has won four straight for the first time since a season-high six-game span from December 22 to January 3.

NOTES:

Chris Paul recorded his only steal of the game with 9:04 left in the third quarter. That gave him 2,086 for his career, surpassing Karl Malone for the 10th most in NBA history.

Harden hit 8 3-pointers tonight after having a total of 3 three-point baskets the previous three games. He now has 285 on the season, which is the fourth-highest total in NBA history and one shy of tying Stephen Curry for the third-most. Curry also holds the top two spots of 402 and 324.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game is Sunday, March 3, in Boston, versus the Celtics, at 2:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.