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Nene nails crucial FTs as Rockets derail Thunder
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BRAZIL’S Nene drained two clutch free throws with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to lift the Houston Rockets to a 118-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
James Harden nearly had a triple-double for the Rockets with 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists as Nene added a season-high 18 points.
All five Rockets starters scored in double figures and Eric Gordon came off the bench to add 22 points.
The game-deciding drama started with an inbounds play with three seconds left. Nene set a screen for Harden and drove to the basket. Harden passed out of the double team, hitting Nene in stride and forcing Thunder forward Jerami Grant to commit the foul.
“They (the Thunder) did a good job (setting up defensively) on the first play so we called a timeout,” Harden said. “I just got open and I saw two defenders guarding me, made the simple play to Nene and he knocked down two free throws.”
The Rockets (28-9) win spoiled a dynamic performance from Russell Westbrook who made a career-high eight three-pointers en route to a 49-point night.
Westbrook shot 16 of 34 as Oklahoma City nearly overcame an 18-point deficit after blowing an early 14-point lead. He added eight rebounds and five assists for the Thunder (21-16), who lost their third straight.
Houston took a 2-1 season-series lead, with all three contests decided by one possession.
Victor Oladipo nailed a shot from beyond the arc for a 116-114 lead with 1:55 remaining. The Thunder dominated the Rockets on the boards in the fourth period, getting 13 rebounds in total from Enes Kanter, who also had 15 points.
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association on Thursday, it was: Pacers 121, Nets 109; Pistons 115, Hornets 114; Raptors 101, Jazz 93; Hawks 99, Pelicans 94; Suns 102, Mavericks 95; Spurs 127, Nuggets 99; and Trail Blazers 118, Lakers 109.
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