Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Change doing Anthony Davis, Pelicans good

NEW ORLEANS -- Even after scoring 45 points for the second time in under a month, the simpler times of Anthony Davis' rookie season don’t feel too far away. Back then, when his trademark brow made up the largest percentage of hair on his face, a big night meant finishing above his modest 13.5 scoring average.
“My rookie year, I was like, ‘I just want to get 20,’” he said.
My, how things have changed.
Davis said a Pelicans personnel member told him Wednesday, “’If I don’t get 30 I play bad.” His response to such a claim, he said, is always the same:
“Did we get the win, though? If we get the win then I’m good.”
That wasn’t the case at the start of the season. Davis dropped 50 in the opener, and the Pelicans lost. He had 45 the next night out, and the Pelicans lost. There were nights of 35, 33 and 34, too, as New Orleans lost its first eight games and found itself on the brink of once again becoming a permanent resident of the Western Conference’s basement.
That’s changed, too. One night after pouring it on Atlanta’s top-ranked defense, the Pelicans blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves -- the team that was supposed to usurp their place as the NBA's en vogue upstart -- 117-96 at the Big Blender. The victory brings them to 4-0 since the return of Jrue Holiday and marks their first four-game winning streak since Alvin Gentry took over in the summer of 2015.
“Any time you win or any time you have a winning streak, you’re kind of in a groove and you’re feeling good as a team,” Holiday said. “It always feels great. Obviously with where we are in the standings, in the Western Conference, it feels good just to be included back in it.”
As big as Holiday’s impact has been -- on the ball movement (27 assists Wednesday), on an already-solid defense (the Wolves shot 38.4 percent from the floor), on their third-to-last-ranked 3-point shooting (0-for-2 for Holiday but 38 percent as a team) -- the turnaround doesn’t happen without Davis’ climb to another stratosphere this season.
Davis, who opened the night third in the NBA in scoring and first in blocked shots, finished with 45 points (17-for-27), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and long list of benchmarks reached, including his third game this season -- and 10th in his career -- of 40 points and 10 rebounds.
The rest of the league? Just one.
“I’m amazed every time by the shots he’s able to do it [through] double-teams and triple-teams,” Frazier said. “It’s an MVP performance.”
That’s certainty how the crowd felt, as those in attendance serenaded Davis with “M-V-P” chants more than once.
“The first couple times you block it out, but then it gets louder and louder, so you kind of hear it,” Davis said. “In the past, every time I hear it I kind of like get happy or something and I miss the free throw. So now you hear it and I just try to concentrate on making the free throw.”
When the Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings on April 3, 2015, marking the last time they won a fourth straight game, Eric Gordon was the high scorer, with 21 points. Davis finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Holiday, though sidelined at the time, is one of the remaining healthy core pieces left on the Pelicans who could speak to Davis’ growth.
But as Holiday wryly pointed out after the game, you don’t need to have much of an expertise in Davis’ personal history to realize the obvious: He’s playing better than ever before.
“Everybody could say that,” Holiday said. “My man can score on 10 people.”

Davis has 45 points, leads Pelicans past Timberwolves

NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis exuded an unmistakable swagger as he strode slowly toward the charged-up crowd behind the basket where he'd just rolled in an off-balance scoop while being fouled. Then, he exchanged a congratulatory five with Arcade Fire singer Win Butler, who was sitting along the baseline.
The Pelicans star wasn't going to be denied -- and neither, for that matter, was the rest of his recently resurgent team.
Davis finished with 45 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans won their fourth straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-96 on Wednesday night.
"We're just playing great and when our crowd is into it like they were in it tonight, it gives us juice," said Davis, who hit 17 of 27 shots that included thunderous dunks, 3-pointers and just about everything in between. "My teammates are doing a great job of just finding me and vice versa. We're all just locked in, playing well together, clicking."
Terrence Jones scored 17 points for New Orleans, which trailed early in the second half before Davis scored eight points during a 13-2 run that gave the Pelicans the lead for good.
"I'm amazed every time at the shots he makes. You know, he's able to do it with double-teams and triple teams -- MVP performance," guard Tim Frazier said. "He just came out there and he led us."
New Orleans led by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter and cruised to its sixth victory in eight games. E'Twaun Moore added 12 points, and Tim Frazier had 11.
Zach LaVine scored 26 for Minnesota, but the Timberwolves lost their third straight.
"We have to play tougher," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We are not playing any defense, and if you are not doing that, you can't win."
Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng each had 13 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which did not shoot well. Wiggins was 2 for 19 and the Wolves hit only 38 percent (33 of 86) of their shots. New Orleans shot 54 percent (45 of 83).
"We have to change something," said Minnesota guard Ricky Rubio, who did not score and had five assists. "We have to change our mentality."
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: The Timberwolves opened a three-game road trip by dropping to 1-6 on the road this season. ... Minnesota shot 3 of 17 from 3-point range.
Pelicans: The Pelicans are 4-0 since Jrue Holiday's return. After scoring at least 15 in each of his first three games, he had seven points and eight assists against Minnesota. ... F Dante Cunningham left the game early in the second quarter. Team officials said he had a left knee bruise.
STAR POWER
The game featured a pair of dominant former Kentucky big men in Davis and Towns, but it was the Pelicans who owned the paint, where New Orleans outscored Minnesota 66-44. The Pelicans also outrebounded the Wolves, 45-41.
"I just tried to get into him and be physical," Davis said of his approach against Towns. "I know it's tough for me when teams get physical with me. It's tough to get into a groove and get into what you like. So that's all I tried to do, knowing he's a big key to their offense, just try to take him out as much as possible and have other guys beat us."
MOMENTUM SWINGS
Davis had 12 points in the first seven minutes, including a 12-foot jumper that gave New Orleans a 21-9 lead.
But the Timberwolves closed the gap late in the third quarter and surged in front in the second period with a 11-0 run capped by Dieng's foul-line jumper as he was fouled by Omer Asik, putting Minnesota up 46-38.
New Orleans, however, closed the half on a 10-0 run during which Jones hit two free throws and dunked twice -- once on a put-back of Davis' miss -- to put the Pelicans back in front, 53-50.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Visit Phoenix on Friday night.
Pelicans: Visit Portland on Friday night.
Check out the team sites for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans for more game coverage.






Clippers rout Mavs 124-104 in matchup of best, worst records

DALLAS -- Chris Paul had to be reminded that the Los Angeles Clippers are up to an NBA-leading 14 wins.
They won't get much easier than this one over the injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks.
Paul scored 18 points, DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and eight rebounds and the Clippers cruised past the Mavericks 124-104 on Wednesday night in a matchup of the teams with the best and worst records in the NBA.
"I honestly didn't know we had 14 wins," said Paul, who added four assists and four steals. "I know we have two losses. But for us, when you've been in this league for a while, it's not necessarily about the wins. It's about how you're playing and about the spirit."
Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in 20 minutes in his return for Dallas after the 13-time All-Star missed eight games with a strained left Achilles tendon.
Austin Rivers added 22 points -- half of them in a meaningless fourth quarter -- for the Clippers. They had a 30-6 run in the second and third quarters on the way to their fourth straight win and 11th in 12 games.
Harrison Barnes had 22 to lead the Mavericks (2-12). They lost their seventh straight game to match their longest skid since February 1999, during Nowitzki's rookie season.
Dallas, missing its top three point guards and facing a trip to defending champion Cleveland, is off to its worst start since going 1-23 in 1993-94. The Mavericks started the week with a valiant effort in a loss at San Antonio.
"This is obviously as tough a week as you can get in the NBA," Nowitzki said. "So hopefully we'll fight through this and grind out a win here and there. And when the schedule turns in our favor hopefully get more healthy and run off some wins. That's the only way to do it."
Blake Griffin had 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds, all in the first three quarters along with the rest of the starters. The Clippers led by 31 in the third.
Rivers scored 11 points in the first half, including 3-pointers just four seconds apart after he hit one, stole the inbound pass and made another. He was 6 of 7 from long range.
TIP-INS
Clippers: LA shot 61 percent in the first half and made 9 of 14 from 3-point range. ... Marreese Speights scored 16 and Jamal Crawford added 15 as the Clippers had a 65-43 advantage in bench scoring. ... Speights had his first double-double with a season-high 12 rebounds. The 16 points matched his season high. ... JJ Redick had 10 points.
Mavericks: PG Deron Williams sat for the eighth time in nine games with a left calf strain. He said he's hopeful to play next week. ... C Andrew Bogut was called for a flagrant foul on a hip-check of Paul as the Clippers point guard drove to the basket. Paul jumped up and went at Bogut, and the pair kept jawing as the referees prepared to review the play. ... Bogut had 12 rebounds and six assists after missing a game with a sore right calf.
COWBOY UP
The Clippers will stay in the Dallas area to attend the Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving before continuing a six-game trip Friday at Detroit. Paul is a well-documented fan of the Cowboys, who have the NFL's best record at 9-1. He wore the jersey of rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, the NFL's rushing leader, on the flight from Los Angeles. Paul has attended Cowboys training camp in the LA area.
While acknowledging that his team has a bevy of Dallas fans, Clippers coach and Chicago Bears fan Doc Rivers had a parting shot for reporters. "I'm not going to call you any of you guys bandwagon, OK, but this is the first time you guys have mentioned the Cowboys in like four years," Rivers said.
LOSING THE LUSTER
The boos were still there for Jordan, who spurned the Mavericks in free agency in the summer of 2015 after agreeing to join them. But they weren't quite as loud or persistent as the 6-foot-11 center's two visits last season.
UP NEXT
Clippers: The visit to the Pistons on the season's longest trip is the first of four straight against Eastern Conference teams. Defending champion Cleveland is the last of those four opponents.
Mavericks: A quick trip to face LeBron James, another Cowboys fan, and the Cavaliers on Friday before home games against New Orleans and San Antonio.
Check out the team sites for the LA Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks for more game coverage.




Matchup

FG Made-Attempted43-8538-84
Field Goal %50.645.2
3PT Made-Attempted15-3211-24
Three Point %46.945.8
FT Made-Attempted23-3117-18
Free Throw %74.294.4
Total Rebounds4344
Offensive Rebounds610
Defensive Rebounds3734
Team Rebounds00
Assists2623
Steals117
Blocks43
Total Turnovers1016
Points Off Turnovers1425
Fast Break Points2313
Points in Paint3242
Personal Fouls1724
Technical Fouls21
Flagrant Fouls01

Field Goal %

  • LAC 50.6
  • 45.2 DAL

Three Point %

  • LAC 46.9
  • 45.8 DAL

Turnovers

  • LAC 10
  • 16 DAL

Rebounds

  • LAC 43
  • 44 DAL

DeRozan's big third helps Raptors over Rockets 115-102

HOUSTON -- High-scoring DeMar DeRozan knows he's going to start getting some new looks and will have to find ways to make an impact when defenses are focusing on him.
On Wednesday night, he found that opening in the third quarter, scoring 21 of his 24 points in the period to help the Toronto Raptors beat the 115-102 to snap a two-game skid.
DeRozan ranks second in the NBA behind Russell Westbrook by averaging 30.5 points a game.
He discussed the adjustments he made after scoring just three points in the first half.
"Just be aggressive. Just take it from how they were playing me," he said. "I was trying to be a passer, get everybody else involved. Pick them apart. Just me understanding that teams are going to play me differently than they would have a week ago. Just me being more conscious of that and picking and choosing my spot.
Raptors avoided losing three in a row for the first time since last November, and ended a nine-game losing streak in Houston.
James Harden had 29 points and 15 assists for Houston, but also had 12 turnovers. The Rockets lost for the first time in four games.
The Rockets trailed by 15 entering the third quarter before using a 9-2 run to open the second half and get to 56-48. That run was powered by a pair of 3-pointers by Trevor Ariza and a third by Patrick Beverley.
DeRozan got hot soon after that, scoring all of Toronto's points in an 11-7 run that extended the Raptors' lead to 72-57 midway through the third quarter. DeRozan had a two-handed dunk during that stretch and capped it with a 3-pointer. He made 8 of 12 shots in that period, including both of his 3-point attempts and also had four assists and three rebounds in the frame. He finished with nine assists, five rebounds and two steals.
"When you're down (big) at halftime and he has not done anything you know you might be in a little bit of trouble because he's going to do something," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's that good of a player."
The Rockets cut into the lead with an 18-8 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Ryan Anderson and Harden, to get within seven points with about 2 minutes remaining. But DeMarre Carroll hit a 3-pointer before a turnover by Harden led to a dunk by him to thwart the comeback attempt and extend the lead to 111-99 with 90 seconds left.
The Raptors led by two early in the second quarter before going on 16-6 run to make it 46-34 with about 2 1/2 minutes in the first half. Kyle Lowry started that spurt with a 3-pointer and had six points in that span.
TIP-INS
Raptors: DeRozan received a technical foul in the third quarter. ... Carroll finished with 20 points and three blocks. ... Lowry had 17 points and nine assists. ... Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Rockets: Houston finished with 14 3-pointers, to give the team at least 10 in 14 straight games. ... Montrezl Harrell got a technical for taunting late in the second quarter. ... Wednesday was the first time Houston has lost since Beverley returned after missing the first 11 games after arthroscopic knee surgery. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds and four assists.
TURNOVER AND OVER
The Rockets had a season-high 28 turnovers after averaging just 13.1 in their previous seven games. The Raptors converted those miscues into 33 points.
"I just think we didn't make characteristic plays," Ryan Anderson said. "We didn't play like we really have been. I don't know what the reason was but ... we were just a little flat."
SUPER SIMONES
Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Simone Manuel were honored on the court during a timeout in the second quarter. Manuel was born in the Houston area and Biles now lives in the city. Biles won four gold medals and one bronze in gymnastics at the Rio Olympics this summer. Manuel two gold and two silver medals in swimming in Rio.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Travel to Milwaukee on Friday.
Rockets: Travel to Sacramento on Friday to start a five-game trip.
Check out the team sites for the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets for more game coverage.




  • timeTEAMPLAYSCORE
    12:00Jonas Valanciunas vs. Clint Capela0 - 0
    11:40Jonas Valanciunas makes 9-foot two point shot2 - 0
    11:23Trevor Ariza misses 26-foot three point jumper2 - 0
    11:22Pascal Siakam defensive rebound2 - 0
    11:11Jonas Valanciunas makes 2-foot layup (DeMar DeRozan assists)4 - 0
    10:45Patrick Beverley makes 11-foot two point shot (Trevor Ariza assists)4 - 2
    10:29Clint Capela blocks DeMar DeRozan 's 5-foot jumper4 - 2
    10:26Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound4 - 2
    10:21Jonas Valanciunas makes two point shot6 - 2
    10:17Ryan Anderson misses 25-foot three point jumper6 - 2
    10:15Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound6 - 2
    10:07Clint Capela blocks Jonas Valanciunas's shot6 - 2
    10:07Raptors offensive team rebound6 - 2
    10:04Patrick Beverley shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)6 - 2
    10:04DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 1 of 27 - 2
    10:04DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 2 of 28 - 2
    9:57Jonas Valanciunas kicked ball violation8 - 2
    9:45Ryan Anderson makes driving layup (James Harden assists)8 - 4
    9:34DeMarre Carroll bad pass8 - 4
    9:19Clint Capela makes 7-foot two point shot (Ryan Anderson assists)8 - 6
    9:00DeMar DeRozan misses 20-foot jumper8 - 6
    8:57DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound8 - 6
    8:52DeMarre Carroll makes 22-foot jumper10 - 6
    8:41Patrick Beverley bad pass (DeMarre Carroll steals)10 - 6
    8:37Kyle Lowry makes two point shot (DeMarre Carroll assists)12 - 6
    8:15Jonas Valanciunas blocks Ryan Anderson's layup12 - 6
    8:12Ryan Anderson offensive rebound12 - 6
    8:11Trevor Ariza makes driving layup (Ryan Anderson assists)12 - 8
    7:47DeMarre Carroll misses 26-foot three point jumper12 - 8
    7:45Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound12 - 8
    7:37Jonas Valanciunas misses 18-foot jumper12 - 8
    7:35Ryan Anderson defensive rebound12 - 8
    7:26James Harden bad pass (DeMarre Carroll steals)12 - 8
    7:20DeMarre Carroll makes two point shot (Kyle Lowry assists)14 - 8
    7:03Patrick Beverley misses 23-foot three point jumper14 - 8
    7:01Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound14 - 8
    6:48Jonas Valanciunas misses 5-foot two point shot14 - 8
    6:47Clint Capela defensive rebound14 - 8
    6:37Trevor Ariza misses 25-foot three point jumper14 - 8
    6:37Rockets offensive team rebound14 - 8
    6:24Ryan Anderson makes two point shot14 - 10
    6:07Trevor Ariza personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)14 - 10
    6:01DeMar DeRozan misses jumper14 - 10
    5:58Patrick Beverley defensive rebound14 - 10
    5:52Clint Capela makes two point shot (James Harden assists)14 - 12
    5:43Kyle Lowry lost ball turnover (James Harden steals)14 - 12
    5:39Patrick Beverley makes two point shot (James Harden assists)14 - 14
    5:33Kyle Lowry offensive foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul)14 - 14
    5:33Kyle Lowry turnover14 - 14
    5:33Rockets Full timeout14 - 14
    5:33Nene enters the game for Clint Capela14 - 14
    5:33Eric Gordon enters the game for Patrick Beverley14 - 14
    5:24DeMarre Carroll blocks Nene 's 4-foot jumper14 - 14
    5:22Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound14 - 14
    5:16Kyle Lowry makes driving layup16 - 14
    5:01James Harden traveling16 - 14
    4:45DeMarre Carroll misses 19-foot two point jumper16 - 14
    4:41James Harden defensive rebound16 - 14
    4:41James Harden steps out of bounds turnover16 - 14
    4:41Cory Joseph enters the game for Kyle Lowry16 - 14
    4:28Jonas Valanciunas bad pass (Ryan Anderson steals)16 - 14
    4:09Trevor Ariza misses two point shot16 - 14
    4:09Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound16 - 14
    4:09Ryan Anderson personal foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul)16 - 14
    3:45Cory Joseph misses 18-foot jumper16 - 14
    3:45Raptors offensive team rebound16 - 14
    3:45shot clock turnover16 - 14
    3:34James Harden bad pass (DeMar DeRozan steals)16 - 14
    3:29Pascal Siakam makes two point shot (DeMar DeRozan assists)18 - 14
    3:14Ryan Anderson misses 28-foot three point jumper18 - 14
    3:13Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound18 - 14
    3:06James Harden shooting foul (Cory Joseph draws the foul)18 - 14
    3:06Cory Joseph makes free throw 1 of 219 - 14
    3:06Patrick Patterson enters the game for Pascal Siakam19 - 14
    3:06Terrence Ross enters the game for DeMarre Carroll19 - 14
    3:06Sam Dekker enters the game for Ryan Anderson19 - 14
    3:06Cory Joseph makes free throw 2 of 220 - 14
    2:48Trevor Ariza misses 24-foot three point jumper20 - 14
    2:47Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound20 - 14
    2:32Terrence Ross makes 22-foot two point shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists)22 - 14
    2:15Eric Gordon misses 26-foot three point jumper22 - 14
    2:14Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound22 - 14
    2:00Jonas Valanciunas bad pass (James Harden steals)22 - 14
    1:58Patrick Patterson shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul)22 - 14
    1:58Raptors Full timeout22 - 14
    1:58Lucas Nogueira enters the game for Jonas Valanciunas22 - 14
    1:58James Harden makes free throw 1 of 222 - 15
    1:58James Harden makes free throw 2 of 222 - 16
    1:36Terrence Ross misses 19-foot two point jumper22 - 16
    1:35Nene defensive rebound22 - 16
    1:22Eric Gordon traveling22 - 16
    1:05Cory Joseph makes 4-foot two point shot24 - 16
    0:55Nene makes 18-foot jumper (Sam Dekker assists)24 - 18
    0:37Cory Joseph misses 19-foot jumper24 - 18
    0:35James Harden defensive rebound24 - 18
    0:29James Harden misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot24 - 18
    0:26Cory Joseph defensive rebound24 - 18
    0:05DeMar DeRozan misses 20-foot jumper24 - 18
    0:03Sam Dekker defensive rebound24 - 18
    0:01James Harden makes two point shot24 - 20
    0:00End of the 1st Quarter24 - 20
  • timeTEAMPLAYSCORE
    11:47Cory Joseph blocks Eric Gordon's layup24 - 20
    11:47Raptors defensive team rebound24 - 20
    11:37Terrence Ross misses 26-foot three point jumper24 - 20
    11:34Lucas Nogueira offensive rebound24 - 20
    11:33Corey Brewer blocks Lucas Nogueira's jumper24 - 20
    11:29Clint Capela defensive rebound24 - 20
    11:22Eric Gordon lost ball turnover (Cory Joseph steals)24 - 20
    11:21Terrence Ross misses two point shot24 - 20
    11:15Kyle Lowry offensive rebound24 - 20
    11:11Clint Capela blocks Kyle Lowry's jumper24 - 20
    11:11Terrence Ross offensive rebound24 - 20
    11:07Terrence Ross misses 20-foot jumper24 - 20
    11:03Patrick Beverley defensive rebound24 - 20
    10:52Sam Dekker makes 25-foot three point jumper (Patrick Beverley assists)24 - 23
    10:33Patrick Patterson misses24 - 23
    10:32Sam Dekker defensive rebound24 - 23
    10:15Corey Brewer makes 25-foot three point jumper (Patrick Beverley assists)24 - 26
    9:57Patrick Patterson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kyle Lowry assists)27 - 26
    9:41Corey Brewer misses 25-foot three point jumper27 - 26
    9:41Raptors defensive team rebound27 - 26
    9:41Eric Gordon blocks Cory Joseph 's 7-foot 2-pt jumper27 - 26
    9:41Lucas Nogueira offensive rebound27 - 26
    9:38Terrence Ross makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lucas Nogueira assists)30 - 26
    9:21Eric Gordon makes driving layup (Sam Dekker assists)30 - 28
    9:06Kyle Lowry makes 26-foot three point jumper (Cory Joseph assists)33 - 28
    8:41Sam Dekker misses 26-foot three point jumper33 - 28
    8:40Terrence Ross defensive rebound33 - 28
    8:32Kyle Lowry Out-of-Bounds Bad Pass Turnover33 - 28
    8:32Official timeout33 - 28
    8:08Corey Brewer makes two point shot (Eric Gordon assists)33 - 30
    7:50Clint Capela blocks Cory Joseph's shot33 - 30
    7:48Sam Dekker defensive rebound33 - 30
    7:43Eric Gordon misses 25-foot three point jumper33 - 30
    7:41Patrick Patterson defensive rebound33 - 30
    7:30Terrence Ross makes 27-foot three point jumper (Kyle Lowry assists)36 - 30
    7:13Clint Capela makes dunk (Patrick Beverley assists)36 - 32
    7:07Eric Gordon personal foul (Cory Joseph draws the foul)36 - 32
    6:46Kyle Lowry misses36 - 32
    6:45Corey Brewer defensive rebound36 - 32
    6:35Corey Brewer traveling36 - 32
    6:24Cory Joseph makes 11-foot two point shot38 - 32
    6:11Sam Dekker misses 25-foot three point jumper38 - 32
    6:09Clint Capela offensive rebound38 - 32
    6:01Eric Gordon misses 28-foot three point jumper38 - 32
    6:00Terrence Ross defensive rebound38 - 32
    5:52Terrence Ross misses 18-foot two point jumper38 - 32
    5:50Eric Gordon defensive rebound38 - 32
    5:43Sam Dekker misses driving layup38 - 32
    5:41Clint Capela offensive rebound38 - 32
    5:37Clint Capela makes layup38 - 34
    5:33Raptors Full timeout38 - 34
    5:33Jonas Valanciunas enters the game for Cory Joseph38 - 34
    5:33DeMar DeRozan enters the game for Lucas Nogueira38 - 34
    5:33Trevor Ariza enters the game for Patrick Beverley38 - 34
    5:33Ryan Anderson enters the game for Sam Dekker38 - 34
    5:33James Harden enters the game for Corey Brewer38 - 34
    5:11Kyle Lowry makes two point shot40 - 34
    5:00James Harden bad pass (Patrick Patterson steals)40 - 34
    4:48DeMar DeRozan misses 23-foot three point jumper40 - 34
    4:46Clint Capela defensive rebound40 - 34
    4:41Eric Gordon misses 25-foot three point jumper40 - 34
    4:37DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound40 - 34
    4:28Kyle Lowry misses40 - 34
    4:26Jonas Valanciunas makes tip shot42 - 34
    4:26Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound40 - 34
    4:07Terrence Ross blocks Ryan Anderson 's 4-foot jumper42 - 34
    4:05Patrick Patterson defensive rebound42 - 34
    4:01Terrence Ross makes two point shot (DeMar DeRozan assists)44 - 34
    4:01Rockets Full timeout44 - 34
    4:01Patrick Beverley enters the game for Eric Gordon44 - 34
    4:01DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Patrick Patterson44 - 34
    4:01Pascal Siakam enters the game for Terrence Ross44 - 34
    3:45Patrick Beverley misses 8-foot44 - 34
    3:44Ryan Anderson misses44 - 34
    3:44Ryan Anderson offensive rebound44 - 34
    3:43Patrick Beverley offensive rebound44 - 34
    3:41Clint Capela misses44 - 34
    3:34Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound44 - 34
    3:31Trevor Ariza shooting block foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul)44 - 34
    3:31Kyle Lowry makes free throw 1 of 245 - 34
    3:31Montrezl Harrell enters the game for Clint Capela45 - 34
    3:31Kyle Lowry misses free throw 2 of 245 - 34
    3:31Montrezl Harrell defensive rebound45 - 34
    3:18Ryan Anderson lost ball turnover (DeMar DeRozan steals)45 - 34
    3:15Jonas Valanciunas bad pass (Patrick Beverley steals)45 - 34
    3:11James Harden misses 25-foot three point jumper45 - 34
    3:09DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound45 - 34
    2:55Pascal Siakam misses 6-foot two point shot45 - 34
    2:55Rockets defensive team rebound45 - 34
    2:41Ryan Anderson steps out of bounds turnover45 - 34
    2:41Cory Joseph enters the game for Kyle Lowry45 - 34
    2:23Montrezl Harrell shooting foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul)46 - 34
    2:23Jonas Valanciunas misses free throw 1 of 245 - 34
    2:23Raptors offensive team rebound45 - 34
    2:23Jonas Valanciunas makes free throw 2 of 246 - 34
    2:11Montrezl Harrell makes layup (Trevor Ariza assists)46 - 36
    2:11Montrezl Harrell taunting technical (5th personal foul)46 - 36
    2:11DeMar DeRozan makes technical free throw47 - 36
    1:58DeMarre Carroll misses 24-foot three point jumper47 - 36
    1:58Rockets defensive team rebound47 - 36
    1:54Montrezl Harrell offensive foul (Cory Joseph draws the foul)47 - 36
    1:54Montrezl Harrell turnover47 - 36
    1:47Trevor Ariza personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)47 - 36
    1:47Corey Brewer enters the game for Trevor Ariza47 - 36
    1:40James Harden personal foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul)47 - 36
    1:40Jonas Valanciunas makes free throw 1 of 248 - 36
    1:40Jonas Valanciunas makes free throw 2 of 249 - 36
    1:32James Harden Out-of-Bounds Bad Pass Turnover49 - 36
    1:09Cory Joseph makes 26-foot three point jumper (Pascal Siakam assists)52 - 36
    0:58Pascal Siakam personal foul (Montrezl Harrell draws the foul)52 - 36
    0:48Ryan Anderson misses 28-foot three point jumper52 - 36
    0:46DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound52 - 36
    0:38Pascal Siakam misses layup52 - 36
    0:36Corey Brewer defensive rebound52 - 36
    0:32James Harden makes 26-foot three point jumper52 - 39
    0:12DeMarre Carroll makes layup (DeMar DeRozan assists)54 - 39
    0:02James Harden misses 25-foot three point jumper54 - 39
    0:01Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound54 - 39
    0:00End of the 2nd Quarter54 - 39
  • timeTEAMPLAYSCORE
    11:47Trevor Ariza makes 25-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)54 - 42
    11:18Kyle Lowry misses 24-foot three point jumper54 - 42
    11:15Patrick Beverley defensive rebound54 - 42
    11:11Trevor Ariza makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)54 - 45
    10:57Ryan Anderson jump ball violation54 - 45
    10:45DeMar DeRozan makes 5-foot two point shot (DeMarre Carroll assists)56 - 45
    10:33Patrick Beverley makes 23-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)56 - 48
    10:15DeMarre Carroll makes layup (DeMar DeRozan assists)58 - 48
    10:15Clint Capela defensive goaltending violation58 - 48
    9:51shot clock turnover58 - 48
    9:34DeMarre Carroll makes 23-foot step back jumpshot (DeMar DeRozan assists)61 - 48
    9:18Clint Capela makes dunk (Patrick Beverley assists)61 - 50
    9:00DeMar DeRozan lost ball turnover (Trevor Ariza steals)61 - 50
    9:00DeMar DeRozan personal foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul)61 - 50
    8:47Ryan Anderson misses 24-foot three point jumper61 - 50
    8:44Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound61 - 50
    8:40Patrick Beverley shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)61 - 50
    8:40DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 1 of 262 - 50
    8:40DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 2 of 263 - 50
    8:30James Harden makes driving layup63 - 52
    8:18DeMar DeRozan makes two point shot (Kyle Lowry assists)65 - 52
    8:00Ryan Anderson offensive foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul)65 - 52
    8:00Ryan Anderson turnover65 - 52
    7:41Jonas Valanciunas offensive Charge (Ryan Anderson draws the foul)65 - 52
    7:41Jonas Valanciunas turnover65 - 52
    7:26James Harden misses 31-foot three point jumper65 - 52
    7:26Trevor Ariza offensive rebound65 - 52
    7:16James Harden bad pass (Kyle Lowry steals)65 - 52
    7:11DeMar DeRozan makes two point shot (Kyle Lowry assists)67 - 52
    6:54Ryan Anderson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Trevor Ariza assists)67 - 55
    6:35DeMar DeRozan makes driving layup69 - 55
    6:22Clint Capela makes two point shot (James Harden assists)69 - 57
    5:58DeMar DeRozan makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kyle Lowry assists)72 - 57
    5:52Kyle Lowry personal foul (James Harden draws the foul)72 - 57
    5:52Rockets Full timeout72 - 57
    5:52Montrezl Harrell enters the game for Clint Capela72 - 57
    5:52Eric Gordon enters the game for Patrick Beverley72 - 57
    5:41Montrezl Harrell makes two point shot (James Harden assists)72 - 59
    5:18Trevor Ariza personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)72 - 59
    5:03Kyle Lowry makes three pointer (Jonas Valanciunas assists)75 - 59
    4:54Kyle Lowry shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul)75 - 59
    4:54James Harden makes free throw 1 of 375 - 60
    4:54James Harden makes free throw 2 of 375 - 61
    4:54Cory Joseph enters the game for Kyle Lowry75 - 61
    4:54James Harden makes free throw 3 of 375 - 62
    4:39DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper75 - 62
    4:37DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound75 - 62
    4:35DeMarre Carroll bad pass (Eric Gordon steals)75 - 62
    4:31Eric Gordon traveling75 - 62
    4:11Cory Joseph makes 24-foot three point jumper (DeMar DeRozan assists)78 - 62
    4:03James Harden lost ball turnover (DeMarre Carroll steals)78 - 62
    4:01James Harden personal foul (DeMarre Carroll draws the foul)78 - 62
    4:01Sam Dekker enters the game for Ryan Anderson78 - 62
    3:51Montrezl Harrell personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)78 - 63
    3:51DeMar DeRozan technical foul(1st technical foul)78 - 63
    3:51James Harden makes technical free throw78 - 63
    3:48DeMar DeRozan misses78 - 62
    3:45Montrezl Harrell defensive rebound78 - 62
    3:45Montrezl Harrell bad pass (DeMarre Carroll steals)78 - 62
    3:40DeMarre Carroll misses layup78 - 62
    3:36DeMar DeRozan misses layup78 - 62
    3:36DeMar DeRozan offensive rebound78 - 62
    3:35Montrezl Harrell defensive rebound78 - 62
    3:35DeMarre Carroll shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul)78 - 62
    3:35James Harden makes free throw 1 of 278 - 63
    3:35Patrick Patterson enters the game for Pascal Siakam78 - 63
    3:35Terrence Ross enters the game for DeMarre Carroll78 - 63
    3:35James Harden makes free throw 2 of 278 - 64
    3:33DeMar DeRozan makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terrence Ross assists)81 - 65
    3:26DeMar DeRozan misses 21-foot jumper78 - 64
    3:26Patrick Patterson shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul)81 - 65
    3:26James Harden makes free throw 1 of 281 - 66
    3:26Lucas Nogueira enters the game for Jonas Valanciunas81 - 66
    3:26James Harden makes free throw 2 of 281 - 67
    3:25DeMar DeRozan offensive rebound78 - 64
    3:14DeMar DeRozan makes two point shot83 - 67
    3:02Lucas Nogueira blocks Sam Dekker 's 2-foot layup83 - 67
    3:00Patrick Patterson defensive rebound83 - 67
    2:51Cory Joseph makes 25-foot three point jumper (DeMar DeRozan assists)86 - 67
    2:33Montrezl Harrell makes layup (James Harden assists)86 - 69
    2:17DeMar DeRozan misses 17-foot jumper86 - 69
    2:16Sam Dekker defensive rebound86 - 69
    2:10Trevor Ariza misses 26-foot three point jumper86 - 69
    2:08Patrick Patterson defensive rebound86 - 69
    2:04Rockets Full timeout86 - 69
    2:04Corey Brewer enters the game for Trevor Ariza86 - 69
    1:45DeMar DeRozan makes 17-foot two point shot88 - 69
    1:39Eric Gordon traveling88 - 69
    1:23Eric Gordon personal foul (Lucas Nogueira draws the foul)88 - 69
    1:23Lucas Nogueira makes free throw 1 of 289 - 69
    1:23Lucas Nogueira misses free throw 2 of 289 - 69
    1:22James Harden defensive rebound89 - 69
    1:09Eric Gordon makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)89 - 72
    0:46DeMar DeRozan steps out of bounds turnover89 - 72
    0:36James Harden misses 26-foot three point jumper89 - 72
    0:35DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound89 - 72
    0:32Corey Brewer personal foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul)89 - 72
    0:32DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 1 of 290 - 72
    0:32DeMar DeRozan misses free throw 2 of 290 - 72
    0:30James Harden defensive rebound90 - 72
    0:27Corey Brewer makes two point shot (James Harden assists)90 - 74
    0:02Terrence Ross misses 10-foot jumper90 - 74
    0:01Corey Brewer defensive rebound90 - 74
    0:01Corey Brewer misses 51-foot three point jumper90 - 74
    0:00Rockets offensive team rebound90 - 74
    0:00End of the 3rd Quarter90 - 74
  • timeTEAMPLAYSCORE
    11:45Cory Joseph makes 2-foot layup (Kyle Lowry assists)92 - 74
    11:25James Harden bad pass (Patrick Patterson steals)92 - 74
    11:14Patrick Patterson misses 25-foot three point jumper92 - 74
    11:12James Harden defensive rebound92 - 74
    10:51Eric Gordon makes two point shot92 - 76
    10:37Lucas Nogueira offensive foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul)92 - 76
    10:37Lucas Nogueira turnover92 - 76
    10:22Eric Gordon misses 27-foot three point jumper92 - 76
    10:22Raptors defensive team rebound92 - 76
    10:15Lucas Nogueira offensive foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul)92 - 76
    10:15Lucas Nogueira turnover92 - 76
    10:07Lucas Nogueira shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul)92 - 76
    10:07James Harden makes free throw 1 of 292 - 77
    10:07James Harden makes free throw 2 of 292 - 78
    9:55Terrence Ross makes dunk (Lucas Nogueira assists)94 - 78
    9:48James Harden bad pass (Terrence Ross steals)94 - 78
    9:41Kyle Lowry misses 4-foot jump bank shot94 - 78
    9:38James Harden defensive rebound94 - 78
    9:19Patrick Beverley lost ball turnover (Patrick Patterson steals)94 - 78
    9:19James Harden personal block (Terrence Ross draws the foul)94 - 78
    9:19Ryan Anderson enters the game for Sam Dekker94 - 78
    9:08Ryan Anderson shooting foul (Patrick Patterson draws the foul)94 - 78
    9:08Patrick Patterson makes free throw 1 of 295 - 78
    9:08Patrick Patterson makes free throw 2 of 296 - 78
    8:56James Harden makes 26-foot three point jumper (Eric Gordon assists)96 - 81
    8:30Cory Joseph misses 19-foot jumper96 - 81
    8:27Patrick Beverley defensive rebound96 - 81
    8:21Eric Gordon misses 19-foot jumper96 - 81
    8:19Clint Capela offensive rebound96 - 81
    8:15James Harden bad pass (Lucas Nogueira steals)96 - 81
    8:11Terrence Ross makes two point shot98 - 81
    7:54Patrick Beverley out of bounds lost ball turnover98 - 81
    7:54Official timeout98 - 81
    7:31shot clock turnover98 - 81
    7:18James Harden makes driving layup98 - 83
    6:58Kyle Lowry misses 28-foot three point jumper98 - 83
    6:56Patrick Beverley defensive rebound98 - 83
    6:48Ryan Anderson makes 30-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)98 - 86
    6:28Kyle Lowry misses 20-foot jumper98 - 86
    6:28Rockets defensive team rebound98 - 86
    6:28Lucas Nogueira loose ball foul (Clint Capela draws the foul)98 - 86
    6:28DeMar DeRozan enters the game for Terrence Ross98 - 86
    6:28Jonas Valanciunas enters the game for Lucas Nogueira98 - 86
    6:03shot clock turnover98 - 86
    5:50Clint Capela blocks DeMar DeRozan's jumper98 - 86
    5:48Cory Joseph offensive rebound98 - 86
    5:39DeMar DeRozan misses 19-foot jumper98 - 86
    5:35Patrick Beverley defensive rebound98 - 86
    5:31Eric Gordon makes driving layup (James Harden assists)98 - 88
    5:31Raptors Full timeout98 - 88
    5:31Montrezl Harrell enters the game for Ryan Anderson98 - 88
    5:31Trevor Ariza enters the game for Clint Capela98 - 88
    5:31DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Cory Joseph98 - 88
    5:15Kyle Lowry misses 27-foot three point jumper98 - 88
    5:13Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound98 - 88
    5:13Jonas Valanciunas makes 2-foot two point shot100 - 88
    5:03Patrick Beverley makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)100 - 91
    4:54Jonas Valanciunas offensive foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul)100 - 91
    4:54Jonas Valanciunas turnover100 - 91
    4:45DeMarre Carroll blocks Eric Gordon 's 26-foot three point jumper100 - 91
    4:43Patrick Beverley offensive rebound100 - 91
    4:39Eric Gordon misses 25-foot three point jumper100 - 91
    4:39Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound100 - 91
    4:37Patrick Beverley personal foul (Jonas Valanciunas draws the foul)100 - 91
    4:18Kyle Lowry makes 18-foot two point shot102 - 91
    4:07James Harden makes driving layup102 - 93
    3:45Jonas Valanciunas misses 8-foot jumper102 - 93
    3:44Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound102 - 93
    3:41Jonas Valanciunas makes two point shot104 - 93
    3:17Trevor Ariza misses 23-foot three point jumper104 - 93
    3:16Patrick Beverley offensive rebound104 - 93
    3:05DeMarre Carroll blocks James Harden 's 6-foot jumper104 - 93
    3:03Trevor Ariza offensive rebound104 - 93
    3:01Trevor Ariza misses 26-foot three point jumper104 - 93
    3:01Rockets offensive team rebound104 - 93
    3:01Patrick Patterson loose ball foul (James Harden draws the foul)104 - 93
    3:01Clint Capela enters the game for Montrezl Harrell104 - 93
    3:01Ryan Anderson enters the game for Eric Gordon104 - 93
    2:56Ryan Anderson makes 27-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)104 - 96
    2:30DeMarre Carroll makes 12-foot two point shot (Patrick Patterson assists)106 - 96
    2:17James Harden makes 26-foot three pointer106 - 99
    1:55DeMarre Carroll makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kyle Lowry assists)109 - 99
    1:49Ryan Anderson misses 26-foot three point jumper109 - 99
    1:47Patrick Beverley offensive rebound109 - 99
    1:36James Harden bad pass (Patrick Patterson steals)109 - 99
    1:31DeMarre Carroll makes two point shot (Kyle Lowry assists)111 - 99
    1:30Rockets Full timeout111 - 99
    1:07Patrick Beverley traveling111 - 99
    1:00Patrick Beverley personal foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul)111 - 99
    1:00Sam Dekker enters the game for James Harden111 - 99
    0:45Kyle Lowry misses 30-foot three point pullup jump shot111 - 99
    0:44Patrick Patterson offensive rebound111 - 99
    0:28DeMarre Carroll makes 13-foot two point shot (DeMar DeRozan assists)113 - 99
    0:18Trevor Ariza makes 26-foot three point jumper (Sam Dekker assists)113 - 102
    0:01Patrick Beverley personal foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul)113 - 102
    0:01Kyle Lowry makes free throw 1 of 2114 - 102
    0:01Kyle Lowry makes free throw 2 of 2115 - 102
    0:00End of the 4th Quarter115 - 102
    0:00End of Game115 - 102