Harden scores 41 as Rockets beat Thunder 118-110
James Harden scored 41 points, and the Houston Rockets went on an 18-4 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-110.
The Thunder led 102-97 with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter. Patrick Beverley’s 3-pointer put the Rockets ahead for good with 4:16 left. Harden and Beverley scored 7 points each during the run, and they led 115-106 with 24 seconds left.
During clutch time, the Rockets outscored the Thunder 11-2. Beverley scored 5 of the Rockets’ 11 on 2 for 2 shooting. In the fourth quarter, Harden had 5 of his 9 assists, 4 with the game within 5 points.
For the Thunder, Kevin Durant had 33 points (10 during a 12-0 run in the third quarter) and 8 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 23 points (10 in the second quarter), 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Thunder committed 21 turnovers to the Rockets’ 10. They gave up 22 offensive rebounds, about 8 more than usual for the shots the Rockets missed. Clint Capela fouled out.