Harden hits game-winner to lift Rockets past Warriors

SAN ANTONIO, USA – James Harden showed once again that he is at the top of his game, rattling in the winning basket with two seconds left in overtime to lift the Houston Rockets to a 135-134 win over Golden State.

The reigning NBA MVP drained the three-pointer despite being double teammed as the Rockets rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit to beat the two-time defending champion Warriors on Thursday, January 3. 

HARDEN WITH THE GAME WINNER! #SCtop10

What. A. Game. pic.twitter.com/9Hi2mGFXnK

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2019

“I had confidence it would go in. Even the ones I miss, they feel good,” said Harden, who recorded his fifth straight 40-point performance.

Harden finished with 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a titanic struggle between the Western Conference powers who met in a seven-game NBA playoff semifinal last season that was won by Golden State.

Harden also had a triple-double Monday against Memphis of 43 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. He has scored at least 30 points in 11 straight contests.

“He made the impossible shot at the end,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “Just an incredible performance.”

“He is the master of isolation and the step-back 3 and drawing fouls.”

Golden State’s Kevin Durant launched a long three-pointer as the buzzer sounded but missed the rim.

Stephen Curry finished with 35 points for the Warriors, who have been struggling of late to find their form. 

Curry put the Warriors ahead with 23 seconds remaining in overtime but all it did was set the stage for Harden’s heroics. Harden shimmied sideways and let fly with an army of Warriors in his face to score the game-winner.

“I know my team needed me to make a shot or make a play. I am happy to come up with a big-time shot,” Harden said.

He also hit two earlier three-pointers in the extra session in a game featuring dynamic plays throughout by some of the league’s marquee players.

Klay Thompson made a go-ahead layup with 40 seconds left in overtime, then Harden tied it at 132-132 on a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left.

“He’s been playing at a high level the last 11 games, so it is not surprising considering the roll he is on,” said Curry.  – Rappler.com