Rockets 115, Heat 102
HOUSTON -- James Harden recorded a double-double and steered the makeshift Houston Rockets to a 115-102 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night at Toyota Center.
Harden finished with game highs in points (26) and assists (14) while carrying the Rockets (26-25) to victory. Houston snapped a three-game skid despite the absence of centers Dwight Howard (suspension) and Clint Capela (thigh). Despite being shorthanded, Harden had ample help.
Forward Josh Smith filled the void in the middle and finished with a season-high 19 points. Enigmatic forward Terrence Jones added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench while reserve guard Marcus Thornton scored 18 points in 22 minutes, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.
All five Miami (27-22) starters scored in double figures, with guard Dwyane Wade tallying 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. The starting frontline of Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire combine for 44 points and 25 rebounds while rookie swingman Justise Winslow, making his professional debut in his hometown, had 11 points and eight boards as Miami had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Miami led by as many as eight points in the first quarter before Thornton, Harden and forward Corey Brewer paced a frenetic close to the period. Thornton opened the surge with a 3 and added another one with 11.6 seconds left to knot the game at 31-31 entering the second.
Wade and Deng scored in transition following consecutive Houston turnovers late in the second quarter before Harden keyed a 13-0 blitz bridging the halves, delivering a step-back jumper and a 3 over Winslow with 0.6 seconds left in the second quarter for a 60-55 halftime lead.
Houston scored the opening eight points in the third quarter to seize the lead for good, with Smith adding two 3-pointers during the blitz to extend the lead to 71-57. Harden had 11 points and four assists in the third quarter, and his 3 with 30.7 seconds left stifled the last Miami run.
NOTES: Rockets C Dwight Howard was suspended for Tuesday night's game against the Heat after making contact with an official last Saturday against the Wizards. Howard was ejected with 8:08 remaining after his second technical foul. During the skirmish, he pushed the arm of referee Mitchell Ervin. Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fined $10,000 by the league for criticizing the officials after that game. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside missed his sixth consecutive game with a left hip strain. ... Rockets F/C Donatas Motiejunas was recalled from Rio Grande Valley of the D-League but will not see action with Houston until he has recovered from the back injury that has limited him to 14 games this season. Motiejunas will continue to play for the Vipers until he has reclaimed prime health and conditioning.