James Harden Drops 45 as Rockets Cruise Past Kyrie Irving, Celtics
The Houston Rockets are now winners in eight of their last nine games after defeating the Boston Celtics 127-113 on Thursday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.
ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon reported earlier in the day James Harden was expected to play despite suffering a left calf contusion. The reigning MVP suited up for Houston and finished 11-of-26 for 45 points in the victory.
Clint Capela also finished with a double-double (24 points, 18 rebounds).
Kyrie Irving led the way for Boston, scoring 23 points and dishing out 11 assists, while Marcus Morris chipped in with 19 points before his ejection in the fourth quarter.
Capela's Consistent Excellence Crucial to Chris Paul-Less Rockets
Harden has to shoulder an even bigger burden for the Rockets until Chris Paul returns from a hamstring injury.
Nobody doubts Harden's ability to carry Houston's offense when he's got his shooting touch. However, the Rockets will find themselves in trouble more often than not when the six-time All-Star is struggling.
While Capela can't replicate Harden's scoring, he can find other ways to help Houston survive when its best player isn't himself. Harden went scoreless in the second quarter Thursday night, and his first field goal of the second half didn't come until the 4:57 mark of the third quarter.
That could've been a disastrous stretch for Houston. Instead, Capela stepped up, and the Rockets didn't lose control of the game.
While Capela doesn't match up style-wise with Houston's uptempo perimeter-heavy offense, he's a perfect fit because a team that attempts a league-high 42.4 three-pointers a game needs somebody to clean the glass on a consistent basis.
Capela's athleticism also makes him a great partner for Harden in the pick-and-roll, which Houston can lean on to great effect when Harden is having an off night.
The Rockets' title hopes rest largely on Paul's availability and effectiveness because they have little chance of dethroning the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game playoff series without Paul playing at an All-Star level.
For now, Houston is primarily concerned with climbing up the standings in the Western Conference, and head coach Mike D'Antoni can count on Capela to do his part to help take some pressure off Harden.
Gordon Hayward's Struggles Emphasize Need for Celtics to Make Major Push for Anthony Davis
Gordon Hayward played 24 minutes against the Rockets, posting nine points, six rebounds and five assists.
Those numbers aren't necessarily bad for a player coming off a fractured ankle that required a lengthy recovery period. Having said that, the Celtics signed Hayward to a four-year, $127.8 million deal in the hope he'd be a cornerstone of their roster and help them take the next step in their quest for a title.
The version of Hayward that Boston is getting now is a solid role player yet well below the standard he set when reaching an All-Star Game in 2017. His .401 field-goal percentage and .327 three-point percentage are both career lows.
The Rockets looked to exploit Hayward on defense whenever Harden was on the court.
Hayward should improve as the year goes on, especially when considering he's both working his way back from the injury and building a level of on-court chemistry with his teammates. But it's fair to wonder whether Hayward's ceiling is as high after the injury as it was before he got hurt.
That general question about Hayward gives general manager Danny Ainge even more reason to pursue a trade for Anthony Davis either now or in the offseason.
Al Horford is 32, while Irving and Hayward will turn 27 and 29, respectively, in March. As good as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are, the Celtics' championship window may not be open as long as one would expect, and that's even truer if Hayward never plays up to his contract.
Acquiring Davis would not only stabilize Boston's present but also solidify its future, with Davis serving as the bridge between the trio of Horford, Irving and Hayward and the next generation, represented by Tatum and Brown.
What's Next?
The Rockets are back in action Saturday when they travel to the Big Easy for a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Celtics remain on the road for their next game. They play the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at FedEx Forum.
