If James Harden and the Houston Rockets thought the best record in the NBA would carry them past the upstart Portland Trail Blazers—owners of a league-best 13-game winning streak—when the two teams collided on Tuesday evening, they had another think coming. The Blazers came into the contest with a clear game plan and enough confidence to believe they could win with it. They almost did. After an amazing, back-and-forth contest that featured superlative scoring and even better defense, Harden’s 42 points carried Houston over the pretenders to their throne, 115-111. It was less a final word than a prelude to what could become a striking matchup in the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Blazers Come Up Big, Harden Even Bigger, as Rockets Prevail in Portland
