Harden scores 46, as Rockets overcome 21-point deficit

Dwight Howard added 19 points and 13 rebounds for Houston, which had lost four of five.

Guard Andrew Wiggins drew a blocking foul against Eric Gordon and hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 112-110 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night at the Smoothie King Center.

The 2014-15 proved to be a great year for him as he scored a career high 27.4 points per game to go along with 7 assists per game and the Houston Rockets made it to the Western Conference Finals. It was only past year when they were one of the best teams in the league led by Dwight Howard and James Harden. Down 89-75 with 2:17 remaining in the period, the Rockets saw James Harden score 11 points before the buzzer to cut the margin to seven.

The Blazers had 13 turnovers in the second half while Harden scored 34 of his 46 points in the second half. From the early-season report that he badly wanted out of Houston to rumors of damaging discord with co-star James Harden to so many others, he found himself putting out media fires at every turn.

“It was frustrating, just because we played so well to start the game”, Lillard said.

Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers, who snapped their six-game winning streak, with 23 points with 6-20 from the field and connected only three treys out of the ten attempts he fired from beyond the arc line.

Those assumptions were erased within a few minutes late in the third quarter. “This win, combined with a Utah loss to San Antonio, has the Rockets back as the eight seed in the West. For now”. “I thought the turning point was in the third quarter when we had a sizable lead and their offensive rebounds, they scored 13 points in the third quarter just off second-chance points”.

Harden began to find ways to slither himself into the paint, and Jason Terry connected on back-to-back jumpers to pull Houston within 10 at 85-75.

Absent any semblance of offensive rhythm, Portland could only stand by as Houston continued to flip the Blazers’ gaffs in their own faces and run into the sunset.

The Rockets were without center Clint Capela because of a sprained right foot that he hurt in practice on Wednesday. Harden did get McHale fired, if not by specific request then by being out of shape and playing remarkably disinterested basketball at the start of the season. Portland is headed on a six-game road trip with the first contest coming against the Chicago Bulls Saturday.