A defender on either side of him, James Harden let it fly one last time for an improbable game-winner in the waning seconds of overtime before falling backward and hitting the floor.
It took his second triple-double of the week, fifth straight 40-point performance and sheer will to rally the Houston Rockets past the Golden State Warriors 135-134 in a thriller between Western Conference powers Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.
Harden hit a contested 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left in OT and finished with 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. The reigning MVP’s team had trailed by 20.
« I take my shots, I drive to the basket, » Harden said. « I shoot my step-backs with confidence and live with the results. »
Kevin Durant’s long 3-pointer missed as the buzzer sounded in what will go down as one of the best games this regular season – a rematch of the seven-game Western Conference finals won by two-time defending champion Golden State.
Stephen Curry put the Warriors ahead with 23.1 seconds remaining in OT on the way to 35 points, a basket that shouldn’t have counted because Durant was clearly out of bounds when he flung the ball back in.
Durant said he knew it, too, and « I could believe it because the refs were missing a lot tonight. »
Harden, however, had one more incredible, acrobatic moment still in him. He released the ball swarmed by two defenders – Klay Thompson to his left and Draymond Green in front of him.
Harden also hit 3-pointers at the 3:52 and 2:02 marks of OT in a game featuring dazzling displays on both ends by some of the game’s biggest stars.
« I don’t know where it ranks but I’m just happy to come away with the win, » Harden said.
