James Harden Erupts for 44 Points as Rockets Beat Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves
James Harden apparently isn't slowing down in the playoffs after an incredible regular season.
The Houston Rockets star scored 44, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to help the No. 1 seed in the West survive with a 104-101 Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Andrew Wiggins scored 18 for the Timberwolves in their first playoff game in 14 years, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Harden and the Rockets offense.
The Timberwolves refused to go away down the stretch, cutting a seven-point deficit with 90 seconds left down to three with the ball. However, Jimmy Butler air-balled a deep two (he meant to take a three but had his foot on the line), and Houston held on.
While each side had key moments, it was Harden who stole the show while knocking down shots from all over the floor:
He also added eight assists and two steals. A personal 7-0 run also helped turn a one-point lead in the fourth quarter to an eight-point advantage that ended up deciding the game.
Perhaps most importantly, he was able to knock down shots in a game where his teammates couldn't make anything from the outside.
Harden finished 7-of-12 from behind the arc while the rest of the Rockets were 3-of-25 combined.
They instead had to rely upon production inside, and Clint Capela was there to help from the opening tip. The center had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, helping the favorites get off to a quick start:
Meanwhile, Towns didn't find much room to roam with just three points by halftime.
The one-sided play in the post didn't mean much, however, as the Wolves remained in striking distance at 54-47 at intermission. A 9-0 run after halftime put the Timberwolves in front, and Derrick Rose made a big impact off the bench (including hitting a go-ahead three with three minutes to go in the third quarter) before finishing with 16 points.
Still, Harden did plenty of damage on his own to help the home team regain the lead going into the fourth quarter:
Minnesota's defense prevented the Rockets from pulling away, but it couldn't take advantage of mistakes in the final minutes and failed to get enough out of its key players.
Jeff Teague almost earned a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but Jimmy Butler (13 points) and Towns (eight points) hardly showed up in the loss. The defeat also represents the 11th straight loss for Minnesota in Houston.
The teams will get a bit of a break before returning for Game 2 on Wednesday at the Toyota Center. Another loss for the Timberwolves would put them in serious trouble.
