Rockets-Cavaliers Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jan 05 2013 12:51AM

James Harden and Kyrie Irving are among the league's most dynamic scorers, but one of them is getting a little more help.

Harden and the high-powered Houston Rockets will try to earn their 11th win in 14 games and fourth in a row Saturday night by outpacing Irving's Cleveland Cavaliers.

Harden has been unleashed since being traded from Oklahoma City on Oct. 27, averaging 26.3 points and topping 20 in each of his last 15 games. With his help, Houston (19-14) is the NBA's top scoring team at 106.1 points per game.

Harden scored a team-best 29 points and Carlos Delfino had 22 as the Rockets rallied from an 18-point deficit for a 115-101 win in Milwaukee on Friday. Houston took the lead for good by outscoring the Bucks 30-14 in the third quarter and finished shooting 54.2 percent.

"Really, that third quarter is about as good as we can play," coach Kevin McHale said. "We locked down on the defensive end. We pushed it up. We got shots and made shots. Then we started blowing some of their plays up just by being aggressive. I was really proud of the guys."

Irving is scoring 23.1 points per game in his second season, which was interrupted by a fractured finger from Nov. 21-Dec. 8, but the Cavaliers (8-26) are averaging only 94.2. Cleveland, though, had one of its better scoring performances at Charlotte on Friday but needed Irving's help to escape with a 106-104 victory and snap a three-game losing streak.

The Cavaliers point guard hit the go-ahead jumper in the final second and scored 16 of his team-best 33 points in the fourth quarter.

"I kind of got in a zone and kept it going," Irving said. "And they kept feeding me and trusted me to continue to make the right plays."

Cleveland led by 18 points in the third quarter of that game but allowed the Bobcats to take a one-point lead with 4:43 to go.

"Our guys never seem to make it easy on us," coach Byron Scott said. "You know that is one thing I told them, we have to figure out how to have a killer instinct when you have a team down like that, don't relax and just allow them to get back in the game. I thought that is what we did."

Houston has won 12 of 17 over Cleveland but lost 118-107 at Quickens Loan Arena in the most recent matchup March 11. Irving had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists in his only matchup with the Rockets.

Houston has lost in three of its past four visits to the Cavaliers but it's hoping Harden's presence might make a difference. While playing as a third option at best for Oklahoma City, the swingman averaged 16.7 points on 57.1 percent shooting in his past three matchups and has made seven of 15 shots from 3-point range.

Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin, who needed five stitches after a collision with Milwaukee's Larry Sanders on Friday, had 19 points and 13 assists in his only game against Cleveland, a 120-103 win for New York on Feb. 29.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Harden leads Rockets past Cavaliers 112-104

Posted Jan 05 2013 11:30PM

CLEVELAND (AP) Surrounded by two superstars in his first three seasons, James Harden had few opportunities to take over games in the fourth quarter.

He sure looks comfortable in that role right now.

Harden scored 29 points, including 16 in the final period, and the Houston Rockets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-104 on Saturday night.

"James sure made a couple of big shots, no doubt about that," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "He made some great plays and as a team, we found a way to make plays through him. He waved the (post player) off a couple of times because he wanted to go one-on-one. He was really feeling it there."

Playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden helped Oklahoma City reach the NBA Finals last season. He was traded to Houston in October and is averaging a career-best 26.3 points with the Rockets.

"You saw him in a situation in OKC where he was part of that three-headed monster," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "Sometimes guys want that to have that spotlight and want to be the man and some of them can't handle it. Obviously he's been able to handle it extremely well."

Harden, who had four points in the first half, made 6 of 17 field-goal attempts, but was 14 of 15 at the line and had a career-high seven steals. He had no explanation for his struggles early in the game.

"To be honest, during shootaround and before the game, my shots all felt good," he said. "Then I couldn't get them to go in the first half. It's weird."

Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 30 points, including 11 in the final period, but tied his career high with eight turnovers. Although Irving kept Cleveland in the game, he blamed himself for not taking care of the basketball.

"I take full responsibility," he said. "That's the difference in the game right there."

The Cavaliers were trying to win two in a row for the second time this season. Center Anderson Varejao, the league's leading rebounder, missed his ninth straight game with a bruised right knee.

Harden has topped the 20-point mark in each of his last 16 games. He scored seven straight points for Houston during one key stretch in the final period. He made a foul shot and converted a three-point play to help the Rockets build a 91-86 lead.

Then Harden made a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, making it 94-88 with 5:52 remaining. He lost control of his dribble at the top of the key, hurriedly retrieved the ball and hit the shot over Dion Waiters.

"The regular shot feels good, but the shot that I heaved up and prayed about to go in went in," he said.

Jeremy Lin added 20 points for Houston, which has won 11 of 14 and is 14-2 against the Eastern Conference.

Harden added another 3-pointer with 3:58 left for a 100-92 lead. Lin's three-point play and Carlos Delfino's 3-pointer helped Houston maintain the lead, but Irving hit a pair of 3-pointers and a foul shot.

Harden made a jumper with 45.7 seconds left and added two free throws at the 29.6-second mark to make it 110-103.

The Rockets trailed by 18 in the second quarter of Friday night's 115-101 victory at Milwaukee. They trailed by 10 in the first quarter against Cleveland, but managed to rally for another win.

Patrick Patterson scored 15 points for Houston while Marcus Morris and Greg Smith had 11 apiece. Smith also had 11 rebounds.

Alonzo Gee scored 18 points for Cleveland. Tristan Thompson added 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Irving, whose jump shot with one second left gave the Cavaliers a 106-104 win over Charlotte on Friday, brought the crowd to its feet in the first quarter when he spun around a defender while dribbling at midcourt and drove in for a layup.

Houston took its first lead midway through the second quarter on Harden's layup. Irving's three-point play gave the Cavaliers a 39-37 lead, but Lin, who scored all 14 of his first-half points in the quarter, hit two 3-pointers and a jumper to help Houston take a 54-50 lead at halftime. The Rockets hit six 3-pointers in the quarter.

Irving and Harden each scored nine points in the third quarter and the game was tied at 78 going into the final period.

NOTES: Asked about rookie F Royce White's status with the organization, McHale said, "I have no idea." White, the 16th overall pick in the June draft, has spent most of the season on the inactive list while he and the team figure out how to handle his anxiety disorder. He refused his assignment to Houston's D-League affiliate last week. ... Scott hopes Varejao will be able to practice Tuesday. "The last report was he went through his workout the other day and felt the best that he's felt," Scott said. ... Cavs G Daniel Gibson (concussion) missed his fourth straight game.

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Rockets 112, Cavaliers 104

Brian Dulik, For NBA.com
Posted Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:20 AM - Updated Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:20 AM

THE FACTS: Shooting guard James Harden scored 29 points and had a career-high seven steals, leading the Houston Rockets to a 112-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night. Harden scored 25 points in the second half and finished the game 14-for-15 from the foul line. Point guard Jeremy Lin added 20 points for the Rockets (20-14), while center Greg Smith had 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Cavaliers (8-27) point guard Kyrie Irving scored a game-best 30 points, while power forward Tristan Thompson collected 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "James [Harden] sure made a couple of big shots down the stretch, no doubt about that. He made some great plays and, as a team, we found a way to make plays through him. He had a very good game for us."

-- Rockets coach Kevin McHale

THE STAT: Harden has scored at least 25 points in 12 straight games, moving him within one of tying Moses Malone's franchise record. "He's 'the man' now on the Houston Rockets," Irving said. "He started making shots tonight. That's what great players do." Harden also extended his streak of games with 20-plus points to 16 straight -- averaging a scorching 29.4 points during that stretch -- while upping his season average to 26.4. The fourth-year pro was acquired in a six-player trade with Oklahoma City on Oct. 27.

TURNING POINT: With 5:52 left in the fourth quarter, Harden fumbled the ball backwards as the shot clock was running out. He recovered it just in time to launch a 30-footer, which hit nothing but net and extended Houston's lead to 94-88. "My regular shots felt good, but they wouldn't fall tonight, but the shot that I heaved up and prayed about went in," Harden said, laughing. The long 3-pointer silenced the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena -- and the Cavaliers never got closer than two points the rest of the way.

QUOTABLE II: "Harden is an all-star, first and foremost, so he's going to make plays down the stretch. We just needed to tighten up on defense, but he made shots and made plays like a go-to-guy does."

-- Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson

HOT: The Rockets improved to 14-2 against the Eastern Conference this season. Their only losses came against Miami and Toronto. "Shoot, I had no idea about that," Lin said. "Maybe we should consider switching conferences." ... Harden's seven steals were one shy of the most ever against the Cavaliers. They also were two more than his high-water mark in 252 previous NBA games. ... Cleveland power forward Kevin Jones, an undrafted rookie, set career highs with six points and 12 minutes. ... Irving's four steals matched his most in 2012-2013.

NOT: Rockets center Omer Asik had four points and four fouls in 21 minutes, while small forward Chandler Parsons missed seven of his nine field goal attempts. ... The Cavaliers lost their sixth straight home game and fell to 3-12 at Quicken Loans Arena on the campaign. ... Cleveland shooting guard C.J. Miles had one assist in 26 minutes, giving him one helper in 94 minutes as a starter. He also is 15-for-41 from the field while playing with the first unit. ... Irving committed a game-high eight turnovers, equaling the most in his two-year NBA career.

QUOTABLE III: "I thought Kyrie [Irving] tried to press at times tonight. A couple of times, he might have tried to go too far -- trying to get into the lane and getting it stripped -- but everyone keeps forgetting this is only his second year, as well."

-- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott

GOOD MOVE: When starter Asik struggled early, McHale didn't hesitate to insert the 6-foot-10 Smith at center. The second-year pro responded by making 5-for-5 field goals in an 11-point, 11-rebound performance. "This game means a lot to me, and it shows that I can compete at a high level," said Smith, a Fresno State product who went unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft. "I'm just working hard, trying to be ready for my opportunities whenever they come."

BAD MOVE: Scott used first-round pick Dion Waiters off the bench as Miles' backup at shooting guard for the third straight game. Waiters again looked out of sync and struggled, making 4-for-13 shots from the floor for 13 points, one assist and three turnovers. Miles also was victimized defensively by Harden, who scored most of his 16 fourth-quarter points against him. In his last six games, Waiters has only made 27-for-78 field goals (34.6 percent).

NOTABLE: Rockets rookie power forward Royce White continues to refuse to report to his NBA D-League assignment with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. When McHale was asked about White's status, he replied, "I have no idea." ... Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (right knee bruise) missed his ninth straight game and will not play Monday at Chicago. The NBA's leading rebounder has been sidelined since taking a hard fall to the floor on Dec. 18 against Toronto, but Scott said he could practice Tuesday. ... Cavaliers shooting guard Daniel Gibson (concussion) sat out his fourth game in a row. He was injured when he absorbed a shot to the head from Hawks shooting guard Anthony Morrow on Dec. 28. ... Old school rappers Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock performed at halftime.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Tuesday vs. L.A. Lakers, Wednesday @ New Orleans, Friday @ Boston. For the Cavaliers, Monday @ Chicago, Wednesday vs. Atlanta, Friday @ Denver.

• Rockets: Jones, White
• Cavaliers: Gibson, Leuer, Varejao

• Rockets: --
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 13
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #60 James Williams, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 16866
• Duration: 2:14

Houston Rockets (20-14)		Cleveland Cavaliers (8-27)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Zeller vs Asik (Gee gains possession)
	11:40 [CLE 2-0]	Thompson Jump Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Parsons 3pt Shot: Missed	11:30
	11:28	Irving Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	11:14	Miles Jump Shot: Missed
	11:13	Thompson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	11:08 [CLE 5-0]	Gee 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Thompson (1 AST)
Harden Driving Layup Shot: Missed	10:52
Asik Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:51
Asik Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:51 [HOU 2-5]
	10:46	Gee Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	10:34
	10:33	Miles Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:18	Zeller Jump Shot: Missed
Parsons Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:17
Morris Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:06 [HOU 4-5]
	09:54	Thompson Jump Shot: Missed
Morris Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:53
Harden Driving Layup Shot: Missed	09:44
	09:41	Zeller Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:35	Gee 3pt Shot: Missed
Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:34
Harden Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Zeller (1 ST)	09:28
	09:20 [CLE 8-4]	Miles 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Irving (1 AST)
Morris 3pt Shot: Missed	08:57
	08:56	Thompson Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	08:44	Miles Jump Shot: Missed
Morris Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:43
Parsons Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Lin (1 AST)	08:34 [HOU 6-8]
	08:22 [CLE 10-6]	Miles Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Zeller (1 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	08:13
Harden Foul: Offensive Charge (1 PF)	07:58
Harden Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	07:58
	07:53	Team Timeout : Short
	07:41 [CLE 12-6]	Gee Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Irving (2 AST)
	07:24	Zeller Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Morris Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	07:24 [HOU 7-12]
Morris Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	07:24 [HOU 8-12]
	06:59	Thompson Jump Shot: Missed
Lin Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	06:58
	06:56	Miles Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Parsons Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	06:56 [HOU 9-12]
Parsons Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	06:56 [HOU 10-12]
	06:43	Gee Step Back Jump shot: Missed
	06:40	Thompson Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	06:38	Thompson Layup Shot: Missed
	06:37	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	06:37 [CLE 14-10]	Gee Putback Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Morris Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Irving (1 ST)	06:14
	06:10 [CLE 16-10]	Gee Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Irving (3 AST)
Asik Jump Shot: Missed	05:54
	05:53	Thompson Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	05:49 [CLE 18-10]	Zeller Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Irving (4 AST)
Parsons Layup Shot: Missed	05:34
	05:32	Thompson Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	05:25	Miles 3pt Shot: Missed
Lin Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:24
Lin Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Miles (1 ST)	05:21
	05:12	Thompson Layup Shot: Missed
	05:11	Thompson Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	05:09 [CLE 20-10]	Thompson Putback Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	05:03
	05:03	Thompson Substitution replaced by Waiters
	05:03	Miles Substitution replaced by Walton
Morris Substitution replaced by Smith	05:03
Asik Substitution replaced by Patterson	05:03
Lin 3pt Shot: Missed	04:49
Smith Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	04:48
Lin Running Jump Shot: Missed	04:43
Smith Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	04:41
Patterson Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Lin (2 AST)	04:34 [HOU 12-20]
	04:07	Irving Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Harden (1 ST)
	04:05	Gee Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	04:05 [HOU 13-20]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)	04:05 [HOU 14-20]
	03:45	Walton Jump Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	03:44
Parsons Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	03:40
	03:27	Walton Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	03:23
Patterson Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	03:13
	03:10	Zeller Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	03:04	Irving Jump Shot: Missed
	03:03	Irving Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	03:03	Irving Tip Shot: Missed
	02:59	Walton Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Smith Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	02:59
	02:59	Team Timeout : Regular
Parsons Substitution replaced by Delfino	02:59
Lin Substitution replaced by Douglas	02:59
	02:59 [CLE 21-14]	Gee Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	02:59 [CLE 22-14]	Gee Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Harden Driving Layup Shot: Missed	02:45
Smith Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)	02:44
Smith Putback Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	02:44 [HOU 16-22]
	02:20	Waiters Jump Shot: Missed
Patterson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:19
Patterson Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Harden (1 AST)	02:07 [HOU 18-22]
	01:50	Waiters 3pt Shot: Missed
Delfino Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:49
Smith Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Delfino (1 AST)	01:43 [HOU 20-22]
	01:43	Irving Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)
Smith Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	01:43
Douglas Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	01:41
Patterson 3pt Shot: Missed	01:33
	01:32	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Smith Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	01:23
	01:23 [CLE 23-20]	Zeller Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	01:23 [CLE 24-20]	Zeller Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Patterson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Zeller (2 ST)	01:13
	01:03	Irving 3pt Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	01:01
Patterson Jump Shot: Missed	00:51.9
	00:51.4	Team Rebound
	00:35.8	Irving 3pt Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	00:33.9
Delfino Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Irving (2 ST)	00:28.8
	00:23.9 [CLE 26-20]	Irving Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Harden Foul: Offensive Charge (2 PF)	00:03.9
Harden Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	00:03.9
Harden Substitution replaced by Parsons	00:03.9
	00:00.0	Irving 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 1st Quarter
Houston Rockets (20-14)		Cleveland Cavaliers (8-27)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Patterson Jump Hook Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Lin (3 AST)	11:42 [HOU 22-26]
	11:25 [CLE 28-22]	Waiters Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Walton (1 AST)
Patterson Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Douglas (1 AST)	11:08 [HOU 24-28]
	10:54	Waiters Layup Shot: Missed
	10:53	Thompson Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
	10:53 [CLE 30-24]	Thompson Putback Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Douglas Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	10:44
	10:25 [CLE 32-24]	Walton Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Waiters (1 AST)
Patterson 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Douglas (2 AST)	10:05 [HOU 27-32]
	09:42	Waiters 3pt Shot: Missed
	09:40	Walton Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	09:36	Waiters Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed
Patterson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:35
	09:20	Miles Foul: Personal (2 PF)
Smith Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Lin (4 AST)	09:13 [HOU 29-32]
	08:58	Miles Jump Shot: Missed
Patterson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	08:57
	08:54
Douglas Jump Shot: Missed	08:36
Smith Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)	08:35
	08:35	Walton Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Smith Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	08:35
Team Rebound	08:35
Smith Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	08:35
	08:30	Waiters Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:26	Waiters Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Delfino (1 ST)
Lin 3pt Shot: Missed	08:04
Patterson Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	08:04
Delfino 3pt Shot: Missed	07:58
	07:57	Thompson Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)
	07:38	Livingston Jump Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:4 Def:5)	07:36
	07:27	Livingston Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Lin Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	07:27
Team Rebound	07:27
	07:27	Walton Substitution replaced by Zeller
	07:27	Miles Substitution replaced by Irving
Douglas Substitution replaced by Harden	07:27
Patterson Substitution replaced by Morris	07:27
Lin Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)	07:27 [HOU 30-32]
	07:05 [CLE 35-30]	Waiters 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Zeller (2 AST)
Lin 3pt Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Smith (1 AST)	06:55 [HOU 33-35]
Smith Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)	06:33
	06:33	Thompson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	06:33	Team Rebound
Smith Substitution replaced by Asik	06:33
	06:33 [CLE 36-33]	Thompson Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
Lin Turnover : Poss Lost Ball Turnover (2 TO) Steal:Irving (3 ST)	06:23
	06:22	Irving Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Morris (1 ST)
Delfino 3pt Shot: Missed	06:17
Asik Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	06:16
Lin Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)	06:08 [HOU 35-36]
	05:50	Zeller Jump Shot: Missed
	05:46	Thompson Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)
	05:43	Thompson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Lin (1 ST)
Harden Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Lin (5 AST)	05:39 [HOU 37-36]
	05:18 [CLE 38-37]	Irving Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Asik Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)	05:18
	05:18	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:18 [CLE 39-37]	Irving Free Throw 1 of 1 (5 PTS)
Morris 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Harden (2 AST)	04:57 [HOU 40-39]
	04:30	Zeller Jump Shot: Missed
	04:30	Team Rebound
	04:30	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Delfino Substitution replaced by Parsons	04:30
Harden Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Livingston (1 ST)	04:21
	04:16 [CLE 41-40]	Waiters Driving Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Zeller (3 AST)
Morris 3pt Shot: Missed	03:59
	03:58	Waiters Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	03:54 [CLE 43-40]	Irving Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Livingston (1 AST)
Lin Layup Shot: Missed	03:28
Asik Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	03:25
Asik Tip Shot: Missed	03:25
Parsons Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:23
Parsons Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Zeller (3 ST)	03:22
	03:19	Irving Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Harden (2 ST)
	03:19	Livingston Foul: Personal (2 PF)
	03:19	Livingston Substitution replaced by Gee
Lin 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Morris (1 AST)	03:05 [HOU 43-43]
	02:48	Waiters Jump Shot: Missed
Parsons Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	02:46
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	02:40
Team Rebound	02:40
	02:40	Zeller Foul: Loose Ball (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:40
Asik Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	02:40
Team Rebound	02:40
Asik Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	02:40 [HOU 44-43]
	02:22	Gee Layup Shot: Missed Block: Asik (1 BLK)
Lin Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	02:19
Parsons Layup Shot: Missed Block: Zeller (1 BLK)	02:16
Morris Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	02:15
Morris Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS)	02:14 [HOU 46-43]
	01:56	Thompson Jump Hook Shot: Missed
	01:53	Thompson Rebound (Off:6 Def:4)
	01:52	Gee Jump Shot: Missed Block: Asik (2 BLK)
Team Rebound	01:52
	01:52	Waiters Substitution replaced by Miles
Harden Substitution replaced by Delfino	01:52
Lin 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Parsons (1 AST)	01:31 [HOU 49-43]
	01:02	Miles 3pt Shot: Missed
Asik Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)	01:00
Lin Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Parsons (2 AST)	00:55.9 [HOU 51-43]
	00:44.9 [CLE 45-51]	Thompson Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Zeller (4 AST)
Lin Foul: Offensive Charge (1 PF)	00:38.7
Lin Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	00:38.7
Delfino Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	00:30.1
	00:30.1 [CLE 46-51]	Thompson Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	00:30.1 [CLE 47-51]	Thompson Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Delfino 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Morris (2 AST)	00:08.0 [HOU 54-47]
	00:00.1 [CLE 50-54]	Irving 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS)
End of 2nd Quarter
Houston Rockets (20-14)		Cleveland Cavaliers (8-27)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:52	Gee Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Asik Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	11:52 [HOU 55-50]
Asik Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	11:52
	11:51	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	11:37	Miles Running Jump Shot: Missed
Parsons Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	11:34
	11:32	Miles Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Lin Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	11:32
Team Rebound	11:32
Lin Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	11:32 [HOU 56-50]
	11:10 [CLE 52-56]	Miles Running Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Lin Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Gee (1 ST)	11:06
	10:57	Gee 3pt Shot: Missed
Morris Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	10:56
Parsons 3pt Shot: Missed	10:50
	10:49	Thompson Rebound (Off:6 Def:5)
	10:39	Miles 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	10:39
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	10:25
Morris Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	10:23
Morris Putback Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)	10:23 [HOU 58-52]
	09:58	Gee Jump Shot: Missed
Asik Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)	09:57
Lin Jump Shot: Missed	09:52
	09:51	Team Rebound
Asik Foul: Loose Ball (2 PF)	09:51
	09:29 [CLE 54-58]	Irving Driving Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Miles (1 AST)
Parsons 3pt Shot: Missed	09:11
	09:10	Zeller Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
Asik Substitution replaced by Smith	09:04
	08:50	Irving Jump Shot: Missed
Parsons Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	08:49
	08:38	Zeller Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	08:38 [HOU 59-54]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	08:38 [HOU 60-54]
	08:25	Miles Layup Shot: Missed
	08:24	Zeller Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	08:24	Zeller Tip Shot: Missed
	08:22	Thompson Rebound (Off:7 Def:5)
	08:21 [CLE 56-60]	Thompson Putback Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Harden Step Back Jump shot: Missed	08:02
	08:02	Team Rebound
	07:46	Thompson Jump Shot: Missed Block: Harden (1 BLK)
	07:44	Team Rebound
	07:40	Zeller Jump Shot: Missed
	07:39	Thompson Rebound (Off:8 Def:5)
	07:31	Irving Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Harden (3 ST)
Morris Jump Shot: Missed	07:20
	07:19	Miles Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Smith Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (2 FTA)	07:08
	07:08 [CLE 57-60]	Gee Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	07:08 [CLE 58-60]	Gee Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Smith Reverse Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Morris (3 AST)	06:52 [HOU 62-58]
Lin Foul: Personal (2 PF)	06:36
	06:21 [CLE 60-62]	Irving Driving Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Morris 3pt Shot: Missed	06:09
Team Rebound	06:09
	06:09	Thompson Foul: Loose Ball (1 PF)
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	06:02
	06:02	Thompson Rebound (Off:8 Def:6)
	05:52	Irving Turnover : Lost Ball (5 TO) Steal:Smith (1 ST)
	05:50	Gee Foul: Personal (3 PF) (2 FTA)
	05:50	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:50	Thompson Substitution replaced by Jones
	05:50	Miles Substitution replaced by Waiters
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	05:50 [HOU 63-60]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	05:50 [HOU 64-60]
	05:35 [CLE 62-64]	Gee Slam Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Zeller (5 AST)
Parsons 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Harden (3 AST)	05:13 [HOU 67-62]
	04:50	Irving Layup Shot: Missed
	04:48	Waiters Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Lin Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)	04:38
	04:38 [CLE 63-67]	Irving Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
Morris Substitution replaced by Patterson	04:38
	04:38 [CLE 64-67]	Irving Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)
Smith Dunk Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Parsons (3 AST)	04:24 [HOU 69-64]
	04:04 [CLE 66-69]	Zeller Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Gee (1 AST)
Parsons 3pt Shot: Missed	03:39
	03:38	Jones Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:30 [CLE 69-69]	Irving 3pt Shot: Made (19 PTS)
	03:13	Jones Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Smith Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	03:13
Team Rebound	03:13
Parsons Substitution replaced by Delfino	03:13
Lin Substitution replaced by Douglas	03:13
Smith Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	03:13 [HOU 70-69]
	02:54 [CLE 72-70]	Gee 3pt Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Irving (5 AST)
Patterson Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)	02:40 [HOU 72-72]
	02:25	Irving Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:4 Def:6)	02:23
	02:19	Waiters Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:19
	02:19	Irving Substitution replaced by Livingston
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)	02:19 [HOU 73-72]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)	02:19 [HOU 74-72]
	02:04	Waiters 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	02:02
Delfino 3pt Shot: Missed	01:50
	01:49	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	01:31 [CLE 74-74]	Zeller Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Livingston (2 AST)
	01:16	Gee Foul: Personal (4 PF) (2 FTA)
Douglas Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	01:16
Team Rebound	01:16
Douglas Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)	01:16 [HOU 75-74]
	00:58.9	Livingston Jump Shot: Missed
	00:56.8	Jones Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	00:56.8 [CLE 76-75]	Jones Putback Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Douglas Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	00:36.9
	00:33.9	Zeller Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	00:29.9	Waiters Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Harden (4 ST)
Harden 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Delfino (2 AST)	00:23.6 [HOU 78-76]
Harden Foul: Personal (3 PF) (2 FTA)	00:04.7
	00:04.7 [CLE 77-78]	Zeller Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	00:04.7 [CLE 78-78]	Zeller Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Houston Rockets (20-14)		Cleveland Cavaliers (8-27)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:38	Waiters Jump Shot: Missed
Delfino Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	11:37
Patterson Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Asik (1 AST)	11:20 [HOU 80-78]
	10:58	Livingston Jump Shot: Missed
Asik Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	10:56
	10:50	Waiters Foul: Personal (2 PF)
Parsons Jump Shot: Missed	10:43
	10:41	Thompson Rebound (Off:8 Def:7)
Asik Foul: Personal (3 PF)	10:28
	10:18 [CLE 80-80]	Waiters Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS)
Douglas 3pt Shot: Made (4 PTS)	10:09 [HOU 83-80]
	09:49 [CLE 82-83]	Jones Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Livingston (3 AST)
Parsons Turnover : Traveling (3 TO)	09:27
Douglas Foul: Personal (1 PF)	09:19
	09:13 [CLE 84-83]	Irving Jump Shot: Made (21 PTS)
Douglas 3pt Shot: Missed	09:03
	09:01	Waiters Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	08:48	Irving Step Back Jump shot: Missed
Delfino Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	08:43
Douglas Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	08:35 [HOU 85-84]
Asik Foul: Personal (4 PF)	08:25
	08:25
Parsons Substitution replaced by Harden	08:25
Douglas Substitution replaced by Lin	08:25
Delfino Foul: Shooting Block (2 PF) (2 FTA)	08:12
	08:12 [CLE 85-85]	Waiters Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	08:12 [CLE 86-85]	Waiters Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Delfino Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Irving (4 ST)	07:50
	07:48	Irving Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO) Steal:Harden (5 ST)
Harden 3pt Shot: Missed	07:44
Team Rebound	07:44
Lin Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Patterson (1 AST)	07:37 [HOU 87-86]
	07:16	Waiters 3pt Shot: Missed
Patterson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	07:15
	07:08	Thompson Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	07:08 [HOU 88-86]
Asik Substitution replaced by Smith	07:08
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	07:08
	07:07	Thompson Rebound (Off:8 Def:8)
	06:50	Irving Turnover : Lost Ball (7 TO) Steal:Harden (6 ST)
Harden Layup Shot: Missed Block: Livingston (1 BLK)	06:44
	06:42	Irving Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	06:38	Irving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Patterson (1 BLK)
Patterson Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	06:36
Harden Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Patterson (2 AST)	06:35 [HOU 90-86]
	06:35	Livingston Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (1 FTA)
Harden Free Throw 1 of 1 (17 PTS)	06:35 [HOU 91-86]
	06:21	Irving Jump Shot: Missed
	06:20	Jones Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
Patterson Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	06:20
	06:20 [CLE 87-91]	Jones Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	06:20	Livingston Substitution replaced by Miles
	06:20 [CLE 88-91]	Jones Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Harden 3pt Shot: Made (20 PTS)	05:52 [HOU 94-88]
Smith Foul: Personal (5 PF) (2 FTA)	05:37
	05:37	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:37	Jones Substitution replaced by Zeller
	05:37 [CLE 89-94]	Waiters Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	05:37 [CLE 90-94]	Waiters Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Patterson 3pt Shot: Missed	05:24
	05:22	Waiters Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	05:08	Waiters Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Harden (7 ST)
Harden Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Thompson (1 ST)	04:52
	04:48 [CLE 92-94]	Miles Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Irving (6 AST)
Delfino Driving Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)	04:27 [HOU 96-92]
	04:27	Thompson Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (1 FTA)
	04:27	Waiters Substitution replaced by Gee
Delfino Free Throw 1 of 1 (6 PTS)	04:27 [HOU 97-92]
	04:09	Miles 3pt Shot: Missed
Smith Rebound (Off:4 Def:7)	04:08
Harden 3pt Shot: Made (23 PTS)	03:58 [HOU 100-92]
	03:58	Team Timeout : Regular
Lin Foul: Personal (4 PF) (2 FTA)	03:41
	03:41 [CLE 93-100]	Irving Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	03:41 [CLE 94-100]	Irving Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Patterson Jump Shot: Missed	03:21
	03:20	Irving Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	03:09	Irving Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Lin Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	03:07
Lin Driving Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS)	03:06 [HOU 102-94]
	03:06	Miles Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (1 FTA)
Lin Free Throw 1 of 1 (20 PTS)	03:06 [HOU 103-94]
	02:51 [CLE 96-103]	Zeller Dunk Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Thompson (2 AST)
Lin Layup Shot: Missed Block: Thompson (1 BLK)	02:26
	02:23	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	02:13 [CLE 98-103]	Irving Driving Layup Shot: Made (25 PTS)
Patterson Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)	02:13
	02:13 [CLE 99-103]	Irving Free Throw 1 of 1 (26 PTS)
Delfino 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Smith (2 AST)	01:51 [HOU 106-99]
	01:42 [CLE 102-106]	Irving 3pt Shot: Made (29 PTS)
Patterson 3pt Shot: Missed	01:20
	01:19	Gee Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
Lin Foul: Shooting (5 PF) (2 FTA)	01:09
	01:09	Irving Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	01:09	Team Rebound
	01:09 [CLE 103-106]	Irving Free Throw 2 of 2 (30 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	01:09
Harden Jump Shot: Made (25 PTS)	00:45.7 [HOU 108-103]
	00:32.7	Irving Foul: Offensive (2 PF)
	00:32.7	Irving Turnover : Foul (8 TO)
	00:29.6	Gee Foul: Personal Take (5 PF) (2 FTA)
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (26 PTS)	00:29.6 [HOU 109-103]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)	00:29.6 [HOU 110-103]
	00:29.6	Team Timeout : Regular
Smith Substitution replaced by Douglas	00:29.6
	00:22.9	Irving 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:21.9	Miles Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	00:16.9	Miles 3pt Shot: Missed
Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	00:16.5
	00:16.2	Gee Foul: Personal Take (6 PF) (2 FTA)
	00:16.2	Gee Substitution replaced by Waiters
Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 (28 PTS)	00:16.2 [HOU 111-103]
Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (29 PTS)	00:16.2 [HOU 112-103]
	00:05.9	Irving 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:05.9	Team Rebound
Patterson Foul: Loose Ball (3 PF) (2 FTA)	00:05.9
	00:05.9	Thompson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:05.9	Team Rebound
	00:05.9 [CLE 104-112]	Thompson Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
End of 4th Quarter