Rockets 104 - 103 Thunder
Final
  for this game

Lee's late shot leads Rockets over Thunder

Mar 14, 2012 - 7:11 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Courtney Lee drained the game-winning three-pointer with 31.9 seconds remaining as the Rockets came back from an 11- point fourth-quarter deficit to edge the Thunder, 104-103, on Tuesday.

Lee finished with 21 points, Chandler Parsons added 21 of his own and Luis Scola poured in 18 for Houston, which has won two of three.

Kevin Durant's 28 point, 12 rebound double-double was not enough for Oklahoma City, which has lost two of three. Russell Westbrook had 19 points and James Harden contributed 16 in defeat.

"Our late-game execution on both ends of the floor wasn't up to the level that we have been all season," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said.

As a tightly contested game that saw 10 ties and 13 lead changes in the first three quarters wound down, the Thunder looked to be pulling away in the final frame. Trailing by three, OKC embarked on a 16-2 spurt, fueled by three dunks from Serge Ibaka.

But following Ibaka's third slam, the Rockets fired back.

Goran Dragic began the comeback with a reverse layup. Patrick Patterson followed with his own dunk, and a Chase Budinger trey got Houston to within 102-98.

Westbrook was then charged with a technical foul for hitting a defender in the face, and Lee knocked down the technical free throw.

Westbrook made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to make it a two-possession game with 48.5 seconds to play.

Then Lee took over.

He cut it to 103-101 with a driving layup. Westbrook lost the ball to Dragic on the Thunder's next trip down the floor, and Lee posted up in the corner. He accepted a pass and swished the three for the game's final points.

Oklahoma City did have one final attempt to win, but Durant's jumper hit the rim and Ibaka's putback attempt was blocked by Patterson in the final seconds.

"We never gave up. That was the most important thing," said Lee. "They found something that was working for them, so we had to try to give them different looks."

The contest was tied 53-53 at intermission.

Game Notes

Dragic and Patterson had 12 points apiece...Ibaka finished with 12 points...Oklahoma City held a 47-37 rebounding advantage...Dragic was charged with a technical foul in the second quarter...There were 12 ties and 15 lead changes overall.






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