James Harden Shines as Rockets beat Wizards in a High Scoring Game by One Point
Fans in the Capital One Arena might have seen their Wizards team lose, but were entertained with a high scoring spectacle with the visiting Rockets.
Visiting Houston Rockets ran out 158-159 winners despite a valiant team effort from the Wizards. The 317 points scored by the two teams is the 9th highest scoring game in NBA regular season history, and the second highest scoring game without heading into OT.
A high scoring affair for the Rockets and Wizards
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Tonight, Houston’s MVP caliber back court clicked wonderfully. James Harden, struggling from the field since the season started went off. The Beard went 18-32 from the field and 17-18 from the foul line as he registered 59 points, with 9 assists. Russell Westbrook, picked up his second triple double with a 17 point, 10 rebound and 12 assist performance. It’s the 140th Triple Double of his career. The team will hope that Hardens shooting slump (which saw him shoot an abysmal 28% from the field) has now ended.
The Washington Wizards were led by Bradley Beal’s 46 points. The Wizards star player this season went an efficient 14-20 from the field, including 7-12 from 3-point. Rookie Rui Hachimura, Washington’s main pick of the draft chipped in with a healthy 23 points while going 3-3 from down town.
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The real punch from the Wizards came off their bench. All 4 of their bench players scored in double digits, lead by Davis Bertan’s 21 points, who connected 6 3-pointers. The Latvian forward has been averaging nearly 15 points off the bench for the Wizards. Overall, the Washington Bench outscored Houston’s bench 64-37.
An upset seemed on the cards, with less than 3 minutes to go, the Wizards held a 149-142 lead. In the last 3 minutes, Houston’s guards scored 12 of the team’s 17 points in the final 3 minutes. The Wizards were still in it with seconds to spare. Yet, James Harden’s free through on an Isaac Bonga shooting foul was enough to see the Rockets through.
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The Rockets are 3-1 now for the season and meet the Brooklyn Nets on 2nd November. Washington, fall to 1-3 for the season and will next take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on 3rd November.
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