5 Takeaways from Houston Rockets' Chippy Win over Cleveland Cavaliers

In a contentious scrap, the Houston Rockets front man James Harden outdueled LeBron James to lead his team to a 105-103 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

Rockets Fight with Grit Against a Fellow Contender

Harden and James fought each possession like this matchup meant more than just a regular-season victory. The Rockets refused to get bullied on their home court. Tempers flared and the superstars tangled.

Both teams showed grit and determination going forward, and provided an interesting potential NBA Finals matchup.

“Lot of close calls, lot of interesting calls,” coach Kevin McHale said in Calvin Watkins’ report for ESPN.com. “LeBron James and James Harden got hooked up on one over there on the right wing and I’m not sure what that was. Looked like square dancing to me, trying to swing the partner around."

The referees dished out five technical fouls in this hard-fought battle. The major incident of the game landed Harden a one-game suspension for his kick to James’ groin area, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

The Rockets showed the nastiness that may be required to take the top seed in the Western Conference. Houston currently sits in third place in the West with a 41-18 record. 

Harden Showed Dependability Down the Stretch

The two superstars battled back and forth possession after possession. And although James scored slightly more points, Harden had the more efficient, impactful performance.

Harden’s 33 points came on 18 shots from the floor, and James scored 37 points while shooting 35 field goal attempts. The Rockets guard relied on his ability to attract fouls and convert from the line as he sunk 15 of his 18 free throws.

Harden not only completed plays for himself but also found the open players as he attracted double teams. Harden finished with five assists, but would’ve supplied more if Josh Smith and others converted the plays.

As the game got physical, Harden didn’t back down. The NBA’s leading scorer fought through the blows and completed three-point plays down the stretch.

Role Players Step Up for Houston

Despite the attractive stat lines, Harden and James need the help of their supporting players in order to make a strong playoff push. Harden’s teammates stepped up as four other players contributed double-digit points.

However, the most important performance of a Houston role player may have come from Trevor Ariza. The small forward only contributed four points in his 42 minutes, but the player’s physical defense changed the game in the final minutes.

Ariza faced the tough task of containing James. Although he didn’t completely stop the four-time MVP, he forced him into tough jump shots. James only converted three of his 11 shots in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Tallying seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks, Ariza’s focus on the more modest aspects of the game helped the Rockets pull out the overtime victory. Ariza’s ability to guard an elite scorer will help take pressure off Harden defensively.

Cavaliers Miss Kyrie Irving

As Houston’s role players stepped up, James bore the weight of the Cavaliers on his back.

Kyrie Irving missed Sunday’s game due to a strained left shoulder. Without the 22-year-old point guard, James forced a season-high 35 attempts and only went three for 11 from the foul line.

The third player of Cleveland’s big three, Kevin Love, contributed 21 points, but disappeared in crunch time. Love didn’t score any points in the fourth quarter or overtime.

In Irving’s absence, Cleveland’s guards contributed a total of 12 points against the Rockets. Matthew Dellavedova, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert shot a combined four for 21 from the floor.

The Cavaliers will need the return of a healthy Irving in order for Cleveland to climb the ranks in the Eastern Conference.

Tristan Thompson's Positive Performance

Although Cleveland’s backcourt struggled, the Cavaliers received a positive performance from their former first-round pick Tristan Thompson. Timofey Mozgov started the game for the Cavaliers, but only played 18 minutes.

Thompson secured a season-high 19 rebounds and was active on the offensive glass. The 23-year-old center added 14 points in his 37 minutes on the floor.

While Mozgov sat for the entire fourth quarter, the Cavaliers held the Rockets to only 16 points in the final 12 minutes of regulation. Thompson earned more playing time with his performance and could add activity on both the offensive and defensive sides.

Overall, this overtime scrum showcased two superstars trying to portray their dominance. The addition of Dwight Howard and Irving the next time Houston and Cleveland square off would add new storylines to an already intriguing battle.