Harden drops 46 and the Rocket's steal the game 122-119

Well James Harden showed Oklahoma City why they should have kept him tonight, and why he's an All-Star and a max contract player. The spirit of Tracy Mcgrady haunts the Toyota Center

AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

Houston started out dropping bombs from the Gulf of Mexico in the first quarter. They made 8 three pointers on 13 shots, and the main culprit was Mr. James Harden. The beard was 4-4 in the quarter from beyond the arc, scoring 14 points in the quarter on a perfect 100% shooting. The Thunder had no answer for the Rocket's constant bombardment of threes and their fast-break attack. Houston out scored the Thunder 8-5 in the break, and scored 8 points off of 4 Oklahoma City turn overs.

KD was continued his poor first-quarter shooting as of late, going 1-3 from the field. Struggling to find his shot, KD let Westbrook carry the offensive load in the quarter. The Honey-Badger whipped up 12 points on 4-8 shooting to go along with his 3 rebounds. Russ attacked the basket ferociously, particularly Jeremy Lin, which landed him at the free throw line - where he went 3-4.

Oklahoma City was able to finish the first quarter with some offensive rhythm, making three of their last four field goals. The Thunder used the momentum to carry themselves into an impressive offensive second quarter, a quarter in which they managed to out score Houston 33-21 and capitalize off the Rocket's turn overs, scoring 7 points off of 6 of them.

AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

Russell Westbrook was moving the ball spectacularly, though he racked up just three assists, he was setting up everyone nicely. K-Mart wasn't able to convert from down town despite the wide open shots from Westbrook's penetration. He was 0-3 in the quarter from three, and just 1-5 over all.

The Thunder took advantage of the Rocket's small line up, pounding the ball inside for 18 points in the paint, while holding Houston to just 10. Harden and co. went cold in the second quarter from downtown, shooting just 1-8, as well as struggling from the field - shooting just 33% in the quarter. The Thunder managed to control the glass, boxing out well and dominating the interior - Oklahoma City was able to out rebound the Rockets 10-6 in the quarter.

The Rockets and the Thunder were neck-and-neck in the third, each team scoring 30 a piece. Chandler Parsons was the Rocket's offensive catalyst in the third quarter, going 3-4 from the field for eight points. The Thunder were haunted by turn overs and sloppy passes, managing to turn the ball over eight times, and allowing twelve Rockets points off of them

Photo by Layne Murdoch | NBAE via Getty Images

Where the Thunder's bench failed, Thabo the Swiss Army Knife Sefolosha didn't. He scored 14 of his new career-high 25 points in the third quarter, shooting 6-7 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc. Playing excellent D is usually Thabo's forte, but his offensive productively this season has sky-rocketed. He's becoming a legitimate three-point specialist and continues to improve his efficient scoring. Kevin Durant was running the point in the third quarter, managing to only turn the ball over once - he dished out 6 dimes in the quarter.

Well the fourth quarter started out good, but didn't exactly end well. Oklahoma City lead by as many as twelve with 6 minutes remaining in the fourth. Kevin Durant had just received his 10th rebound to give him his second career triple-double, Thabo Sefolosha swished his 6th three to give him a new career-high 6 made threes and 28 points, and K-Mart actually shot above 40% for a quarter.

None of those feats mattered, though. The Thunder turned the ball over six times for six points in the quarter, and turned it over twenty two times for twenty nine points in the entire game. KD was 1-6 in the fourth, and to no avail struggled to get anything to fall through the hoop.

Layne Murdoch/NBAE Getty Images)

So the turn overs ensued and so did James Harden. After two blow-out losses to the Thunder, I'd imagine Harden wanted to make a statement, and show Oklahoma City what he's capable of. Knocking jumpers down in everyone's face - Serge, Thabo, K-Mart, KD, everyone, he scored 16 of his career-high 46 points in the fourth quarter. He went 5-7 from the field, and knocked down his only three in the quarter with a step back 25 footer to tie the game at 111.

Kevin Durant came up the court, shot a contested 16 footer, and the fast break continued. Carlos Delfino set up Jeremy Lin for a 26' three pointer to give the Rocket's a 114-111 lead - their only lead of the half. The crowd was roaring, and Oklahoma City couldn't get anything to fall. After Westbrook missed a 2 foot lay up, the Rockets went on the break again and guess who was there to nail another 21 footer step back? James Harden.

The Rockets would take a 116-111 lead, and that would be it. KD nailed two free throws, but the Thunder once again allowed Jeremy Lin to hit another three, a three that would set a franchise record for threes allowed by the Thunder at 15. Russell Westbrook gave the Thunder a glimpse of hope - nailing an out of control three to cut the lead to just two. RJ would mistakenly foul when it wasn't necessary, and send Lin to the free throw line to ice the cake and steal an easy road victory from the Thunder 122-119.

James Harden - Cy@@ (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Thunder Essentials:


Money Ball - C

OKC was cold from the arc for most of the game, going 1-8 from the arc in the second - but managed to set the record straight in the second half on 11-24 shooting. Seven of those second half threes came in the fourth, but at a price. Oklahoma City took 19 threes in the fourth, failing to make the extra pass or finish in the lane. K-Mart 0-4 in the first half from three, and coming from a 40% shooter that's not gonna cut it. Westbrook made a money-ball delivery with a late game 3 to give the Thunder a glimpse of hope to win or tie the game, but it wasn't enough.


Kevin Martin - D

K-Mart disappeared for stretches of the game tonight, as he usually does on the road. This has become a bad habit for the player who's making 12 million dollars this year, and who's contract expires after this season. He shot just 38% from the field tonight(5-13) and missed several wide open shots from down town early in the game. He attempted four shots at the line tonight, converting three of them, but failed to make an impact on the game from the get-go.


Interior Defense - C

Oklahoma City gave up 48 points in the paint tonight, as well as 12 offensive rebounds and 11 second chance points. These little things add up, especially against a high scoring offensive team like the Rockets. You beat this type of team off limiting their second chance points and their total amount of shots. Houston took 92 total shots tonight, compared to just 87 for the Thunder - even though the Thunder out rebounded them 34-31. OKC managed to score 50 points in the paint, but that was mainly do to Houston's lack of size and the Thunder's strength while driving to the basket. The trade deadline is just hours away, and with still no post dominance on the Thunder's current roster, don''t be surprised to see any big moves.