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Recap: Rockets vs. Cavaliers 03/01/2015

James Harden’s MVP-caliber performance led the Rockets to a 105-103 overtime win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Harden posted a monster line (33 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks) and came up with a huge win in a showdown against one of the league’s other top MVP candidates.

“We're growing as a team. So, early in the season, when things got tough, we didn't know how to pull these situations out. Lately we've been believing in each other. Games like this we find a way to win and that's been our motto the entire season,” Harden said.

The most intense game at Toyota Center this season by far started with a battle down low as both Donatas Motiejunas and Timofey Mozgov scored eight quick points in the first. James Harden hit three field goals in the quarter to break his three game streak of not hitting a shot in the first and the Rockets grabbed a three-point lead.

Cleveland started the second quarter on a 12-5 run and grabbed a big edge in both rebounding and points in the paint. However, the Rockets battled back thanks to another strong game from Terrence Jones. Jones racked up 11 of his 19 points in the first half and sparked the Rockets to a lead at halftime. The Rockets are now 8-0 in games Jones starts this season.

“There were some plays that we missed but we stayed focused. We fought through a lot of adversity. It was a tug of war match pretty much the whole game and you get excited about games like that. It felt like it was a playoff atmosphere and it was a great win for our ball club,” Josh Smith said.

In the third, the competitive fire of both teams was on full display. After Beverley and LeBron got into a scuffle, Ariza added to the emotion with a technical and Harden and LeBron even got into it with Harden getting whistled for a kick to James while he was fighting for the ball.

“I think the third quarter was like an hour long. Each team wanted to win. Each team was fighting. This is basketball. I know the fans enjoyed this, having two of the best players in basketball compete,” Patrick Beverley said.

The pandemonium only fueled Harden as he went off for 13 points in the third quarter. Houston’s lead got as high as 11 in the third before settling at eight to start the fourth, where Cleveland scored eight unanswered to tie the game at 82.

Houston responded with back-to-back threes from Brewer and Terry. The Rockets hit 10+ three pointers for their league-leading 43rd game this season. Cleveland hoisted an opponent season-high 40 three-pointers in the game.

Despite some late Harden heroics, Cleveland had the ball tied up with seconds remaining. LeBron James pulled up for the game-winner, but missed thanks to incredible defense by Trevor Ariza.  

In overtime, Josh Smith and Patrick Beverley each had huge buckets, but the game again came down to LeBron James who was at the free throw line with a chance to give Cleveland the lead, but he missed both. James went just 3-11 from the line and Houston held on to win.

"I didn’t come through for my teammates tonight. I tricked the game up at the free throw line,” James said.

With the win, the Rockets have taken 6 straight games versus the Cavs. HOU has now gone 18-5 (.783) against the Eastern Conference this season. Also, the Rockets moved to 5-0 in overtime games this season & 7 straight OT wins overall - the 2nd longest streak in franchise history.

“You gotta love it. This was as close to a playoff atmosphere that I've played in since the playoffs. It was fun. We had a good time out there,” Trevor Ariza said.

The two point win marked the Rockets third consecutive win by five points or less, and moved Houston to 13-2 in such games. It also concluded a 5-0 home stand before the Rockets hit the road to face Atlanta on Tuesday.