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 On this occasion, the Rockets finished with moxie, overcoming a
season-high turnover count and the blistering shooting of Washington
forward Trevor Ariza in their 113-112 win over the Wizards at Toyota
Center.
Guard James Harden converted a driving layup with :00.7 seconds left
to seal the victory for the Rockets (36-17), who improved to 11-0 at
home against Eastern Conference foes while stretching their winning
streak to seven games. Harden produced 35 points, six rebounds and
six assists.
The Wizards (25-27) erased a 19-point second-half deficit and led
112-110 when guard John Wall (19 points, 14 assists) hit two free
throws with four seconds left. But Ariza (32 points, 11 rebounds)
fouled Harden before the ball was in play on the ensuing inbounds
pass. Harden hit a free throw and Houston retained possession,
setting the stage for Harden to play the role of hero.
"That was a wild game," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "Twenty-six
turnovers in a win, that's pretty amazing. I don't know how we did
that."
Ariza set an opponent's record at Toyota Center by hitting 10
3-pointers, but he was also one of three Washington starters to foul
out in the fourth, joining forward Nene (21 points) and center
Marcin Gortat. Guard Bradley Beal added 20 points for the Wizards,
who took 33 more shots that the Rockets and hit 16 of 32 attempts
from behind the arc.
"It's the toughest way to lose," Wall said. "Opponents shoot 30 more
free throws (47 to 16) and unless you're having an incredible
shooting night, you think you'd lose by 20. We fought hard and ended
up losing by one."
Houston center Dwight Howard recorded his fourth consecutive
double-double (24 points and 16 rebounds) while Rockets forward
Chandler Parsons posted 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Harden was the intended recipient of the ball on the final two
plays, with McHale altering the set after Harden sank the free throw
after the Ariza foul.
"Jeremy (Lin) acted like he was going to come off (the Harden
screen) and didn't come off and I just came off (the Howard screen)
at the top," Harden said. "I just needed space and I got to the
rim."
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McHale furiously called a timeout after the Rockets surrendered
consecutive open perimeter looks to Ariza and Beal, the second 3
cutting the Rockets' lead to 70-65 with 8:57 left in the third.
Houston responded with a 13-0 run and stretched its lead to 89-70
before Ariza caught fire and the Wizards shot their way back into
contention.
Washington closed the third period with a 20-4 burst as Ariza hit
five treys over the final 3:19 and closed the quarter 7-for-7 from
deep. Houston led 93-90 entering the fourth and scuffled down the
stretch.
"I've shot the ball well before," Ariza said of his career-best
shooting. "I was open and there were good looks and I was just
letting them fly."
Harden and Howard combined for 11 points as Houston darted to a 17-5
lead before Washington began to chip away. The Wizards whittled that
deficit to six points before Harden closed the opening period with a
flourish, completing a three-point play before beating the buzzer on
a rim attack that gave Houston a 38-26 lead heading into the second.
With Howard resting on the bench, the Wizards made their move by
attacking the paint and seizing the lead with a 15-2 run. Nene
scored eight points during that run, six in the lane, with Ariza and
Beal drilling 3s around the final Nene basket. Washington closed the
half 6-for-14 from behind the arc and turned 13 Houston turnovers
into 10 points.
NOTES: With Rockets G Patrick Beverley sidelined due to an abdominal
strain, reserve G Aaron Brooks temporarily rejoined the rotation
against the Wizards. Brooks had played in just five of 10 games
since Beverley returned from a broken right hand on Jan. 20, logging
60 minutes. Brooks leads Houston in 3-point shooting at 41.2
percent, but minutes have been tough to come by playing behind
Beverley and G Jeremy Lin. ... Houston C Dwight Howard entered
Wednesday averaging 24.8 points and 11.5 rebounds during the
Rockets' winning streak. With that individual and team success came
the jovial Howard who thrived in Orlando. "You've got to be who you
are," said Wizards coach Randy Wittman, who served as an assistant
while Howard played for the Magic. "He's a fun-natured guy. If you
try to make somebody what they're not, then you have a problem."
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