Harden Plays Defense, Houston Rockets Better Than the Milwaukee Bucks, 120-116

The Houston Rockets were better than the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, 120-116, all that because of James Harden’s defense in the deciding moments. Yes, you read it well, defense.

The Beard didn’t have his usual offensive night, dropping just 24 points, but he performed excellently on the defensive side of the court, stopping Giannis in important moments, and recording 6 steals during the game. Overall, the Rockets forced 22 turnovers from the best team in the league at the moment.

“I don’t have nothing to prove to anybody. Nothing to say,” Harden stated after the game once receiving a question did he shut down the critics with his defensive performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZERTx88lpy8

The Bucks had an eight-point lead in the late part of the fourth, but Houston responded with a 9-0 run, getting a one-point edge. Both sides exchanged basket in the next few minutes, until Danuel House Jr., stole the basket from Giannis in the last moments of the match. He would make both of his free throws, to make it 119-116, while Khris Middleton missed both three-point attempts to tie the result.

“Usually when we’re up six two minutes to go, we usually close the game out,” Antetokounmpo said. “But we didn’t do that today, so we’ve got to learn from it and got to keep moving.”

Even though Giannis scored 36 points and had 18 boards with 8 assists, the Rockets stopped him in several important attacks. Harden was excellent on him in the last period, and as mentioned before his defense was very good.

Bucks had just three players with 10 or more points scored. Apart from Giannis, Khris Middleton added 27 with 12 rebounds, and four assists, Brook Lopez added 23 with 12 boards also, and that was it. All other players didn’t get to post a double-digit figure in the point column. That was the main reason why the leading team in the league lost. By the way, Eric Bledsoe was once again out.

“I think our execution, our certainty in what we wanted to do wasn’t where it needs to be and that starts with me. So, I think a lot of tonight’s on me,” said Milwaukee’s coach Mike Budenholzer.

His team outrebounded the Rockets 65 to 36, had a better field-goal percentage, 48.9% compared to 39.6% Houston posted, but apparently, those turnovers and the fact that they made just nine threes made the difference in the end.

Harden locked up Giannis in crunch time 💪 pic.twitter.com/NmhWOxXLjS

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 3, 2020

Mike D’Antoni’s side, on the other hand, tied the NBA record of most three-point attempts with 61, making 21 hits.

They played with just nine players in the rotation, but it seemed to be efficient. Russell Westbrook was the leader when it came to scoring, as he dropped 31 points, posting 8 assists and six rebounds, having 12 free throws and making 10.

Meanwhile, James Harden had 24 points, was 11-for-13 from the line, and was excellent in all other areas, seven rebounds, seven assists, and six steals.

House had 16 buckets, four threes among them, Robert Covington added 15, and PJ Tucker 11.

The Rockets now have 42 wins and 24 losses and are tied fourth with Utah in the Western Conference, one game behind the Nuggets, and half a game ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder. They are meeting the Portland Trail Blazers this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Bucks are one win away from securing the top spot in the East, with 54 wins and 13 defeats at the moment. The reigning champions Toronto Raptors come second six games behind.

Milwaukee will play against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night also.