HOUSTON (AP) – James Harden scored 45 points, including all nine for Houston in overtime, and the Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-103 on Wednesday night after firing Kevin McHale earlier in the day.
Corey Brewer made an off-balance 3-pointer to force overtime and Harden took over from there, finishing with 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals as the Rockets capped off an emotional day at the Toyota Center.
It almost ended with a fifth straight loss before Brewer made his shot with 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 99.
Playing just hours after McHale was fired, the Rockets played much of the game with sloppy mistakes and dreadful shooting. Interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, son of longtime NBA coach Bernie Bickerstaff, served in his first game as head coach.
The Blazers dropped their seventh straight, their worst losing streak since closing 2012-13 on a 13-game skid.