Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Saturday 5 January 2019
Harden rallies Rockets in OT to edge Warriors 135-134

By JANIE McCAULEY onds left in the extra pe- with that killer instinct in the
AP Sports Writer riod, then Harden tied it at second half," Thompson
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A 132 on a pair of free throws said. "I think we relaxed up
defender on either side of with 33.5 seconds left. 17 points."
him, James Harden let it fly "He just did what he does," SPURS 125, RAPTORS 107
one last time for an improb- Warriors coach Steve Kerr SAN ANTONIO (AP) — De-
able game-winner in the said. "He's the master of the Mar DeRozan had his first
waning seconds of over- isolation, the step-back 3 career triple-double with
time before falling back- and drawing fouls." 21 points, 14 rebounds and
ward and hitting the floor. Durant added 26 points 11 assists, and San Anto-
It took his second triple- and seven rebounds. nio welcomed back Kawhi
double of the week, fifth Harden also had a triple- Leonard with thunderous
straight 40-point perfor- double Monday against jeers in a victory over To-
mance and sheer will to ral- Memphis of 43 points, 10 re- ronto.
ly the Houston Rockets past bounds and 13 assists, but Leonard scored 21 points
the Golden State Warriors he was disappointed with on 8-for-13 shooting, but
135-134 in a thriller between nine turnovers he thought the anger the Spurs' fans
Western Conference pow- gave the Grizzlies too many showered on him seemed
ers Thursday night for their transition opportunities. to impact the MVP candi-
sixth straight victory. Including his 50-point game date. Leonard had to take
Harden hit a contested Dec. 13 against the Lakers, a step back at the free
3-pointer with 2.7 seconds Harden has scored at least throw line and compose
left in OT and finished with 30 in 11 straight. himself amid chants of "Trai-
44 points, 15 assists and Clint Capela contributed tor! Traitor!" and "Quitter!
10 rebounds. The reigning 29 points and 21 rebounds Quitter!" from the capac-
MVP's team had trailed by for Houston. ity crowd that adored him
20. Kerr's simple message during his seven seasons in
"I take my shots, I drive to about defending Harden, San Antonio.
the basket," Harden said. who went to the line 27 Leonard forced his way out
"I shoot my step-backs with times Monday: "Don't foul of San Antonio in a trade
confidence and live with Houston Rockets' James Harden, right, is defended by Golden him!" that yielded DeRozan and
the results." State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA Harden shot five free throws Jakob Poeltl from Toronto
Kevin Durant's long 3-point- basketball game Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. in the first quarter Thursday for Leonard and Danny
er missed as the buzzer Associated Press and nine in all. Green.
sounded in what will go His jumper with 5:37 left Leonard was booed heav-
down as one of the best — a rematch of the seven- finals won by two-time de- in regulation cut Golden ily from the moment he
games this regular season game Western Conference fending champion Golden State's lead to 112-111. He walked onto the court for
State. also got the Rockets close warmup. The boos con-
Stephen Curry put the War- by knocking down two tinued during a pregame
LeBron James out riors ahead with 23.1 sec- 3-pointers and assisting on video tribute and player
onds remaining in OT on the another basket in the final introductions, whenever he
at least 1 more week way to 35 points, a basket 1:26 of the third as Houston touched the ball and as he
that shouldn't have count-
cut its deficit to 98-92 going walked off the court follow-
ed because Durant was into the final quarter.
ing the lopsided loss.
with groin injury clearly out of bounds when "We had a 20-point lead DeRozan and the Spurs
he flung the ball back in.
and lost. It doesn't really dominated the battle of
Durant said he knew it, too, matter what happened at former teammates, lead-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeB- and "I could believe it be- that point," Green said. ing by as many as 28 points
ron James will miss at least cause the refs were missing Thompson scored 26 points in snapping the Raptors'
four more games with the a lot tonight." and hit consecutive 3-point- three-game winning streak.
Los Angeles Lakers while he Harden, however, had one ers late in the first half. After LaMarcus Aldridge scored
recovers from a left groin more incredible, acrobatic struggling to find his stroke 23 points for San Antonio,
strain. moment still in him. He re- from deep, Thompson is 10 Bryn Forbes added 20, Der-
The Lakers on Friday said leased the ball swarmed for 17 on 3-pointers the past rick White 19 and Rudy Gay
James' injury will be re- by two defenders — Klay three games. 13.NUGGETS 117, KINGS 113
evaluated in one week. Thompson to his left and With his first 3 at the 7-min- SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)
The four-time NBA MVP Draymond Green in front of ute mark of the opening — Jamal Murray scored 17
already has missed four him. period, Durant became of his 36 points in the fourth
games after getting hurt Harden also hit 3-pointers the 32nd player in NBA his- quarter and Denver beat
during the Lakers' victory at Los Angeles Lakers forward at the 3:52 and 2:02 marks tory to reach 22,000 points. Sacramento for its fourth
Golden State on Christmas. LeBron James, left, shakes of OT in a game featur- Falling backward as he re- straight win.
His recovery schedule will hands with coach Luke Wal- ing dazzling displays on leased the ball over Hard- Nikola Jokic had 26 points
keep him out of the Lakers' ton as they have a chat dur- both ends by some of the en, Durant swished a 3 with and 13 rebounds, and the
upcoming two-game road ing the first half of an NBA bas- game's biggest stars. 59.2 seconds left in the first Nuggets maintained their
ketball game against the Los
trip and a home game Angeles Clippers on Friday, "I don't know where it ranks half. lead atop the Western Con-
against Detroit next week. Dec. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. but I'm just happy to come The cold-shooting Rockets ference by winning for the
The Lakers are 1-3 without Associated Press away with the win," Harden fell behind 70-53 at half- eighth time in 10 games.
James in their lineup. They said. "I just had to go out time. Houston was just 6 of Mason Plumlee added 12
host the New York Knicks points, 8.3 rebounds and and do my part on the 23 from long range, 3 for 9 points and 10 rebounds.
on Friday night. 7.1 assists during his first sea- highest level." by Harden, while the War- Buddy Hield had 29 points
James is averaging 27.3 son with the Lakers.q Thompson made a go- riors shot 62.8 percent. to lead the Kings, who have
ahead layup with 40.6 sec- "I don't think we played lost three straight.q