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NBA: Rockets close gap on Warriors by beating Heat

The Houston Rockets used some late-game heroics from guards James Harden and Chris Paul to defeat a tough Miami Heat team 99-90 on Monday.

James Harden heroics leads Rockets past Heat

Texas, January 23: The Houston Rockets used some late-game heroics from guards James Harden and Chris Paul to defeat a tough Miami Heat team 99-90 on Monday (January 22).

Harden broke an 88-88 tie with a 29-foot three-pointer, and he and Paul later hit contested jumpers inside the arc to seal the win for the Rockets (33-12).

Harden finished with 28 points, and Paul and Eric Gordon added 16 apiece.

The Heat (27-20), who came into the game winners of nine of their past 11 games, were led by Hassan Whiteside, who had 22 points (16 of those in the first quarter) and 13 rebounds.

As for Clint Capela, the Rockets center finished with 14 points and eight boards. It was Capela who said Saturday after the Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors that Houston were now the better team.

Despite Capela's boast, the Rockets still trail the Warriors by three games in the Western Conference standings.

DOMINANT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus Cousins put up some huge numbers in the Pelicans' 132-128 double-OT win over the Bulls. Cousins had 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. According to ESPN, that is only the 10th 40-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game in NBA history.

ROUGH OUTING FOR RUBIO

Ricky Rubio had twice as many turnovers (four) as points (two) in Utah's 104-90 loss to the Hawks. He hit only one of his eight shots from the floor.

DAVIS GOES CLOSE

The Bulls and Pelicans had a strange finish to regulation in New Orleans. The Pelicans were headed for the win until Bulls guard Justin Holiday got fouled on a shot he did not get off before the buzzer. But after Holiday tied the game with two of three free throws, Pelicans star Anthony Davis came close to winning the game on a full-court heave.

MONDAY'S RESULTS

Charlotte Hornets 112-107 Sacramento Kings

Atlanta Hawks 104-90 Utah Jazz

Houston Rockets 99-90 Miami Heat

Memphis Grizzlies 105-101 Philadelphia 76ers

Milwaukee Bucks 109-105 Phoenix Suns

New Orleans Pelicans 132-128 Chicago Bulls

Dallas Mavericks 98-75 Washington Wizards

Denver Nuggets 104-101 Portland Trail Blazers

Minnesota Timberwolves 126-118 Los Angeles Clippers

CAVALIERS AT SPURS

Remember how the Cavaliers went on a tear most of November and December, winning 18 of 19? Since that hot streak ended, they have dropped 10 of 14. That is a perfect illustration of how Cavs have either been very good or bad this season, so who knows which team will show up in San Antonio.

LeBron is seven points away from 30,000 career points but it is the Spurs who are looking to rev up their offense with young point guard Dejounte Murray now starting in place of veteran Tony Parker.

Source: OPTA

Story first published: Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 12:11 [IST]
Other articles published on Jan 23, 2018