SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Lonnie Walker IV had a career-high 28 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame James Harden’s 50 points by rallying from a late 10-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 135-133 in double overtime Tuesday night.
DeMar DeRozan added 23 points, nine assists and five rebounds as the Spurs won their second straight at home and snapped the Rockets’ two-game winning streak.
Harden played a season-high 49 minutes coming off a 60-point outing Saturday over three quarters against Atlanta. He was whistled for two charges in the second overtime. The second came against DeRozan with 0.8 seconds remaining, sealing San Antonio’s victory.
The Rockets led by 22 in the second half and were up double digits in the fourth quarter for all but the final 4:18.
Harden had six points in the second overtime, including a follow of Clint Capela’s missed free throw with 1:41 remaining to put Houston up 131-128. Bryn Forbes tied it at 131 with a 3-pointer, and the teams traded free throws the remainder of the game.
DeRozan was 3 for 4 on free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Capela had 22 points and 21 rebounds, and Austin Rivers and Russell Westbrook added 19 points each for Houston. Westbrook was 7-of-30 shooting but added 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Spurs were without starting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed his second straight game with a sore right thigh.
Houston outscored San Antonio 7-2 in the final two minutes of overtime to force a second OT. Harden’s runner bounded off the backboard and rim as the first overtime ended.
Walker had 18 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight to close the game and force overtime. Walker’s run started with an alley-oop dunk followed by consecutive 3-pointers to tie it at 115-all with 11.5 seconds remaining.
The Spurs claimed to their first lead behind a new rotation that featured Walker, second-year guard Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, Drew Eubanks and Trey Lyles. The group outscored the Rockets 17-9 to close the first quarter to put San Antonio up 27-25.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Harden remained in the game after tweaking his left ankle and tumbling to the court with 5:26 remaining. Capela appeared to step on Harden trying to save the ball. Harden rose slowly and jogged gingerly upcourt but played all but the final 2:27 of the first quarter. … Daniel House sat out with an undisclosed illness.
Spurs: Walker’s previous career highs were 16 points against Denver on April 3 and 26 minutes against Golden State on Feb. 6. He played 35 minutes Tuesday. … Forbes had 25 points before fouling out with 48.5 seconds remaining the second overtime. … San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich called a timeout 73 seconds into the game after the Spurs gave up consecutive baskets to Capela, including an open dunk.
UP NEXT
Rockets: At Toronto on Thursday night.
Spurs: Host Sacramento on Friday night.
