NBA scores 2015: The Rockets have a pulse, and 3 other things we learned

James Harden still knows how to take over a game, plus three other things we learned on Monday night.

by Liam Boylan-Pett

Nov 3, 2015, 12:52 PM UTC

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

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NBA schedule and results: James Harden leads Rockets past Thunder

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Don't count out the Houston Rockets yet. Sure, they looked listless during their 0-3 start to the season and appeared to be heading towards loss No. 4 after two quarters against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. But then, once Russell Westbrook picked up his fourth foul, something clicked for James Harden and the Rockets. They overcame a 15-point deficit to pick up their first win this season, beating the Thunder, 110-105, behind Harden's 37 points.

It wasn't a must-win game for the Rockets, but it was about as close at it gets only four games into the season. Harden, who was 12-of-26 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line, did enough in the second half and down the stretch to lead Houston. He had help from Ty Lawson, who had his best game in a Rockets jersey, scoring 14 points and dishing out 11 assists.

Westbrook had 25 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in only 32 minutes and Kevin Durant had 29 points and four rebounds as the Thunder squandered away a 4-0 start.

The Rockets jumped out to a 7-0 lead and led 17-11 midway through the first quarter, but then the Thunder started doing what everyone else has done to the Rockets this season -- began outplaying them. Oklahoma City went on a 15-4 run to take a five-point lead heading into the second quarter and extended their lead to eight at the half.

The lead ballooned to 15 and leading by 14 with 9:24 to play in the third quarter, Westbrook picked up his fourth foul. A little bit of hope was all the Rockets needed. They went on a 25-8 run over the final 9:24 of the quarter to take a three-point lead into the fourth.

Lawson was creating, throwing alley-oops to Dwight Howard. Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer and Patrick Beverly were hitting big shots and making plays. And Harden was doing what he does, making tough shots and driving to the hoop and getting to the free throw line. By the time Westbrook re-entered the game, the Rockets had the confidence to stay in the game down the stretch.

Thanks to Harden and Lawson, they did just that despite Westbrook’s near heroics in the fourth. He scored 12 of his 25 in the final frame, but Durant did disappear for a stretch of the fourth quarter.

Durant was disappointed in his play. “Me as a leader, I can’t have five turnovers and no assists,” he told reporters after the game. “That’s unacceptable.”

It was a surprisingly uneventful final 90 seconds as Harden missed two isolation play three-point shots and a sloppy possession with a missed three from both Westbrook and Durant.

It wasn't a terrible loss for the Thunder, but it is one they shouldn't have given up. They had the Rockets on the ropes in the third quarter and admittedly looked a lot like the Scott Brooks-coached teams of the past -- one that struggled to be creative offensively.

For the Rockets, on the other hand, it was a huge win. They finally looked like the team that made it to the Western Conference Finals -- even if it took them three-and-a-half games to do so.

3 things we learned

The Warriors are wayyyyyy too good for the Grizzlies, and maybe the rest of the league. The Warriors beat the Grizzlies by 50. That is not a typo. 50 points! And it was another game, another 20-plus point quarter for Stephen Curry, who put up 21 in the third quarter as the Warriors raced to an easy 119-69 win. Curry ended the night with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting and Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

The Grizzlies stood no chance against the red hot Warriors, but they folded for the second time this season after a 30-point loss to the Cavaliers in their opener. Memphis was 26-of-96 from the field and couldn't get it going all night. The Warriors have a great defense, but the Grizzlies need to show up against a tough opponent if they're going to challenge in the West this season. It was a miserable loss for a team that has to make some changes, and quick.

We already know it, but Flip Saunders will certainly be missed. Saunders passed away in late October after his battle with cancer, and in their first home game since, the Timberwolves had a touching tribute before tipoff. The players and fans even came together to sing Hallelujah for their coach.

On the court, the Timberwolves built up a 17-point lead but were unable to hang on against a determined Damian Lillard as the Portland Trail Blazers won, 106-101. Lillard had 34 points -- including some big shots down the stretch -- and seven assists. The Timberwolves were so close to beginning the season 3-0, but couldn't catch a break down the stretch.

Andrew Wiggins had 16 points and six rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and five rebounds. Plus, the young core competes. They wanted to win this game, especially for their coach. Flip would have been happy with the way this team looks this season, and even happier with the future of the franchise.

Never take Tim Duncan for granted. The Big Fundamental hasn't put up gaudy stats in a few years, but that's not going to stop him from setting NBA records. The San Antonio Spurs' 94-84 win over the New York Knicks was win No. 954 for Tim Duncan, which is the most of any player with one team. Duncan had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Kawhi Leonard was phenomenal against the Knicks with 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. On top of that, he held Carmelo Anthony to 4-of-17 shooting. Leonard can stick with the Spurs through his career, he might be able to surpass Duncan's record. That would, of course, mean that Duncan would retire at some point, which at this point seems impossible.

Play of the night

LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 25,000 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers' win over the Philadelphia 76ers. This wasn't the bucket that did it -- no, it was just points 24,998 and 24,999 -- but good grief, that right there is exactly what it looks like when someone defies the laws of gravity. James beat out Kobe Bryant on his next bucket, another slam. Not only did he scoff at gravity on this slam, James seemed to ignore at his own age. At some point James will age and not be able to jump like he did when he was 22 -- not yet, though.