Steve Blake hit a game-winning three-point shot with 1.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets, 99-98.
Lakers beat Rockets on Steve Blake game-winner, 99-98
The Lakers held on after giving up a double-digit lead to Houston, needing a game-winning three-point shot from Steve Blake to put away the Rockets.
Houston came back from a 19-point Lakers lead and took the lead in the fourth at the 3:50 mark off of a Chandler Parsons dunk. The Lakers relied on the "Hack-a-Dwight" strategy, and in the fourth quarter Howard made just five of his 12 free throw attempts.
The Lakers were on fire from beyond the arc in the first half, making 11 of their 15 attempts (78 percent). The Lakers scored 64 points through the first half. Blake hit three of his four three-point attempts through the first two quarters. He finished with 14 points and four field goals from behind the three-point line.
James Harden attacked the Lakers' perimeter defense, forcing his way to the rim and free-throw line. He finished with a game-high 35 points and sank 14 of his 16 free throw attempts. Houston struggled from the free-throw line overall, however, making just 63 percent of their 52 attempts
Dwight Howard scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his first game against his former team. Pau Gasol struggled from the field, scoring just one point on 1-of-10 shooting shooting.
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