Photo Credit, toronto.ctvnews.ca
James Harden’s last shot to tie the game sailed off to the right side of the basket. The three-point attempt would have taken the game into overtime had it scored. Yet it snapped the Rockets 17 game winning streak as Toronto won, 108-105 on Friday night at Air Canada Centre.
With the winding seconds ticking away, Harden took control of the ball under heavy pressure from the Raptors defense as he attempted an off-balanced shot with no time left.
Raptors Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan hit key baskets down the stretch to couple with the Rockets 9-of-27 shooting from behind the arc. Houston had connected on one trey before Harden drained a three-pointer with 2:48 left in the third quarter.
The Rocket’s loss gives Toronto the season series sweep in a playoff-like atmosphere.
Lowry led Toronto with 30 points, and DeRozan scored 23.
It was the Rockets first loss since falling to New Orleans back on January 27.
Houston dodged several bullets in front of a packed emotional crowd but still managed to put itself in a position to tie the game on Harden’s desperation three-pointer as time expired.
Harden led four Rockets in scoring with 40 points. Eric Gordon and Chris Paul had 14, and Trevor Ariza added 13.
Lowry came out on fire, scoring 13 points in the first quarter for the East-leading Raptors. The Rockets, who entered the game as the top team in the West, was shooting for its 18th win in a row.
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