Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, decrease proper, is picked up by ahead Paul George as ahead Kawhi Leonard, left, celebrates and Houston Rockets ahead Jae’Sean Tate stands by after Hardin made a shot within the closing seconds of an NBA basketball In-Season Match sport Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — James Harden hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer whereas getting fouled sending the Los Angeles Clippers to their first victory since his arrival and snapping their six-game dropping streak with a 106-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night time within the NBA In-Season Match.
Harden dramatically drew the foul from Jae’Sean Tate and drilled his classic 26-footer from atop the important thing with six seconds to play earlier than finishing the four-point play to safe the win for the Clippers, who had misplaced their first 5 video games since buying Harden from Philadelphia.
Kawhi Leonard added two free throws within the last second and completed with 26 factors because the Clippers prevented their longest dropping streak since Leonard and Paul George arrived in 2019.
Harden had a season-high 24 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists towards the Rockets, his workforce for 9 seasons from 2013-21. George added 23 factors and eight rebounds.
JAMES HARDEN 4-POINT PLAY 😱
CASHES THE STEPBACK FOR THE LEAD WITH SECONDS REMAINING.
🏆 NBA In-Season Match
🏀 West Group B motion on the NBA App
📱 https://t.co/A3xDbl1bUf pic.twitter.com/kFWsM82wFd
— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun had 23 factors and eight rebounds for the Rockets, whose six-game successful streak ended as a result of they allowed the Clippers to complete the sport on a 12-1 run.
Jalen Inexperienced added 20 factors and Fred VanVleet had 19 factors and 10 assists for Houston within the opener of a three-game California street journey.
Russell Westbrook had eight factors in simply 17 minutes after popping out of the Clippers’ beginning lineup at Westbrook’s suggestion in an try and steadiness their rotation. The adjustments appeared to assist for stretches, however Los Angeles nonetheless struggled to drag away till their stars took cost late.
The Clippers bought their first victory in three event video games, whereas the Rockets dropped to 1-1 in event play.
Neither workforce managed to carry a considerable lead. Houston was up 99-94 with 2:02 left, however George’s driving layup trimmed the result in one level earlier than Harden drove and dished to Ivica Zubac for a go-ahead dunk within the last minute.
Sengun made one in all two free throws to tie it 100-100 after Leonard fouled him with 29 seconds to play.
Dillon Brooks bought one other night time of enthusiastic boos within the metropolis the place his insults of LeBron James did nothing to sluggish the second-seeded Grizzlies’ swift playoff exit final spring. Westbrook laughed in Brooks’ face after Brooks fouled the previous Lakers guard on a dunk try within the first half.
Earlier than the sport, the Clippers signed large man Daniel Theis, who had two factors and three rebounds in his debut. The German veteran, waived by Indiana earlier within the week, can be a backup large man with Mason Plumlee sidelined by a sprained knee.
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Rockets: At Lakers on Sunday.
Clippers: At San Antonio on Monday.