Harden, Rockets sink Mavericks at wire
HOUSTON -- James Harden scored a game-high 28 points, including one free throw with 0.1 seconds remaining, to lift the Houston Rockets to a 93-92 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night at Toyota Center.
Harden drew a foul from Mavericks swingman Wesley Matthews on a desperate drive to the basket immediately after Matthews pulled Dallas even with a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining. Matthews fouled out on the play and Harden made the second free throw after missing the first to cap the victory for the Rockets (2-1).
Matthews paced Dallas with 25 points. Harden added seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Rockets' offense collapsed in the second half, their lack of ball movement yielding only three assists until reserve center Nene scored off a pass from Ryan Anderson following a baseline cut to the basket for a 91-87 lead with 2:16 left.
But the Mavericks (0-3) kept tightening the screws defensively, and Houston did not score another basket the rest of the game. Despite this, the Rockets held on.
For a spell the Rockets didn't appear set for a stressful finish. Nene scored nine points down the stretch of the first quarter, making all four of his attempts to fuel a late surge that extended the lead from 23-20 to nine points entering the second courtesy of a Corey Brewer buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Houston kept rolling in the second, and when reserve forward Sam Dekker sandwiched 3-pointers around a driving layup from Tyler Ennis, the Rockets led 48-31.
But the Mavericks fashioned a comeback behind backup point guard J.J. Barea, whose 12 points and three assists in the first half proved integral to the rally. The Rockets still led by double digits at the break thanks to another buzzer beater, this one from Harden on a cut to the basket, but their early momentum never returned.
Houston failed to score a basket for the first six minutes of the third quarter, finally converting when Eric Gordon hit a running floater at the 5:47 mark for a 69-66 lead. That Dallas failed to take the lead during the Rockets' prolonged slump proved critical, for when Harden closed the third by scoring or assisting on 11 consecutive points, Houston rebuilt the 10-point lead it held at the intermission.
NOTES: Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki was a late scratch due to illness. He also was out of the lineup on Friday night due to Achilles soreness and residual discomfort from a stomach ailment. Nowitzki posted 22 points and eight rebounds in the season opener against the Pacers. ... After logging just 12 minutes in the opener against the Lakers and six minutes in the first half at Dallas on Friday, Rockets G K.J. McDaniels played 16 minutes in the second half of that 106-98 victory and caught the eye of Houston coach Mike D'Antoni, who confirmed that McDaniels earned additional playing time. ... D'Antoni made a point of stressing pace in the second half against the Mavericks on Friday, a sincere attempt to keep the Rockets mindful of how fast they should play. Through two games, the Rockets are 18th in pace at 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes.