Three takeaways from the Rockets overtime win over the Knicks

The Houston Rockets and James Harden have endured a multitude of hardships to start the 2015-16 National Basketball Association season, most of those problems brought on by their own doing.

The Rockets needed 50 points from All-NBA guard James Harden to stave off the winless Philadelphia 76ers, but after losing seven of the previous eight games, the Rockets weren’t in position to be haughty. But they blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to drop a season-high fourth straight game, falling 116-111 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

A week ago, everyone was ecstatic about the New York Knicks (8-11) four game win streak. Kristaps Porzingis had his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Although they are nowhere near Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, the pairing of Capela and Dwight Howard will become lethal for Rockets’ opponents.

As noted, the Sixers’ 27 straight losses mark a new disgusting record in Major United States professional Sports. After New York missed a chance to tie, Harden missed a 3-pointer with 21.9 seconds left and Afflalo misfired on a long jumper with 10.5 seconds to play before Calderon misfired on a 3-pointer two seconds later.

So how could the Rockets win a game if Harden didn’t score 40? Porzingis added 20 points with 13 boards, outplaying Howard (14 points, six rebounds) with the exception of that alley-oop jam to start OT.

Houston opened overtime on a dunk by center off a lob from Thornton, who then scored the next five points for a 108-103 lead.

ORLANDO, Fla. Elfrid Payton had 22 points and 10 assists, leading Orlando to the win.

NY led 54-41 at halftime, holding Houston to 34.1% shooting from the field.

Marcus Morris scored a team-high 17 points for the Pistons.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jerryd Bayless led Milwaukee with 17 points apiece. We’re trying to figure out two bigs in Nerlens (Noel) and Jahlil (Okafor), trying to figure out who’s the point guard. It was Covington who initiated the Sixers’ comeback from a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter, capping that period with a three-point play that got Philadelphia rolling.

Anthony because of an illness. He was joined by Isaiah Canaan (23 points, 4-10 from three) and Jerami Grant (18 points, 3-7 from three).

Jared Dudley starred for the Wizards with 19 points.