Houston Rockets Boost Past Cleveland Cavaliers 105-103 OT

My goodness.

Now that was a game to watch!

The bright lights were on and the stage was set for the Houston Rockets to take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on national television at Toyota Center.

Yes, I said it.

James is to the Cavs as to what a headliner is to a musical act — you have to put his name first!

You know, in past seasons over the last decade, I’d have a sense of optimism but dreaded when we’d get top billing media-wise.

Mar 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) battle for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

We’d usually get too hyped and start to beat ourselves and get embarrassed in front of a much larger audience.

Not now.

With the additions the Rockets have made over the past few seasons and with James Harden playing on a whole new level that I didn’t think was possible to reach, the Rockets know how to act in the spotlight.

It makes me damn proud too.

It makes me become reminiscent of the old days back in the 90s when we were regulars.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Kenny Smith…what more could you ask for?

The Rockets have come a long way and they’ve got the tools to make a deep run in the postseason for the first time in awhile.

So back to this match up — two good teams that had been playing well — the Rockets had won four straight and the Cavs had won seven of their last eight.

Both teams were charged from the tip and the Rockets were shooting lights out!

They made five threes in the first four minutes — Donatas Motiejunas had two, Harden, Josh Smith and Patrick Beverley had one each.

The Rockets did take a brief 25-20 lead with 3:47 left in the 1st quarter after Harden scored two on the drive.

They battled it out until the end of the quarter with the Rockets on top 29-26 after Terrence Jones made one out of two free throws off a Matthew Dellavedova foul.

Mar 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) drives the ball to the basket during the second quarter as Cleveland Cavaliers guard

J.R. Smith

(5) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Things remained even tighter in the 2nd quarter as no team went up by more than four points.

The battle between the Beard and LeBron was intense and it was pleasure seeing these guys go against each other.

Each had 15 points at the half with the Rockets up 50-47 although James did not score for the last 7:05 of the quarter.

The Rox came charging out the 3rd quarter as their shooting continued to be red-hot with their largest lead being 75-65 after a Harden three with 4:26 left.

With 2:08 left, sparks flew and emotions ran high as Corey Brewer and Tristan Thompson got into it all while Harden was called for a Flagrant Level 1 foul.

Both Brewer and Thompson were slapped with a technical.

Whether that was the correct call is up for debate but the Cavs were just as brutal to my Rockets and Brew was just backing up his teammate.

That’s what I also like about this team — when guys are getting thrown around by their opponents, they get in their face, get physical and let them know that it’s not appreciated.

I can’t say that for past Rockets’ teams.

Anybody remember when Kevin Love stomped all over Luis Scola‘s face back in a early February game during the 2011-12 season?

Mar 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward

LeBron James

(23) shoots during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody came to his defense and I was totally miffed at the whole spectacle within itself.

Not now.

Moving forward, the Rockets continued to keep the Cavs at bay by leading them 82-74 at the end of the 3rd.

At the start of the 4th, James Jones did what he does best, knock down threes.

He hit two along with a Thompson layup to tie the game 82-82 with 10:37 left in regulation.

But Brew hit a three to counter along with Jason Terry to put the Rox back up 88-82 with 9:16 left.

As things got critical down the stretch, LeBron took over running the Cavs’ offense and orchestrated a near-flawless alley-oop to Thompson with 4:56 left. Rockets 93, Cavs 90

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Then we saw LeBron vs. Harden at its finest, step-back jumpers followed by euro-steps each helping their team stay in the hunt.

The Rockets then went on a late 6-0 run to take a 98-95 lead with with 1:43 left.

It was beautiful too — Harden drove in through heavy traffic and was able to get the scoop all in one motion while falling on his posterior drawing a foul off J.R. Smith.

It obviously didn’t hurt because he was yelling in jubilation as his legs and arms exclaimed his emotions at that exact moment.

Two fouls were drawn — one off Trevor Ariza and one off Jones — to allow them to tie the game 98-98 with 1:09 left. Thompson made both and LeBron made one out of two.

After a few turnovers and missed shots on back-to-back possessions — a stellar defensive effort too — the Rockets found themselves still tied with no time on the
clock.

Mar 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Terrence Jones

(6) attempts a free throw during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

OVERTIME!

The Rockets were still fighting at the start and Jones was able to draw a foul off Thompson connecting on one out of two. Rockets 99, Cavs 98

Then Beverley, also known as the Wolverine, stepped up big-time with a three and the momentum-maintainer putting the Rockets up 102-100 with 3:19 left.

With four seconds left — Rockets up 104-103 — LeBron was at the line for two off a Smith foul for a chance to take the lead and possibly win the game.

He missed both and with Harden getting the rebound, this game was a wrap.

CHOKE!

He did hit one out of two after being fouled by James after the Rockets ran the clock down to 0.6 seconds. Final Score: Rockets 105, Cavs 103

David Blatt called a timeout with 0.4 left to advance to half-court and milk everything he could out of the clock but it was no avail as the Rockets defended the ball well.

GAME TIME!!!

Harden led all Rockets scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists including shooting 15-of-18 from the charity stripe.

Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds.

LeBron had 37 points, eight boards, four assists, three steals and three blocks but one cannot ignore his horrid, 3-for-11 performance from the free throw line.

Love had 21 points/6 boards.