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Rockets clip Cavs in OT

Mar 2, 2015 - 2:10 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - James Harden scored 33 points with eight rebounds and five assists to help the Houston Rockets take down the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-103, in overtime on Sunday.

Terrence Jones posted 19 points with seven rebounds and Donatas Motiejunas added 16 points for the Rockets, who swept their five-game homestand.

LeBron James had a rough night shooting, and it was his two misses from the free throw line that cost Cleveland the game late in overtime. He finished with a game-high 37 points despite shooting 15-of-35 from the floor and 3- of-11 from the charity stripe.

"I didn't come through for my teammates tonight," James said. "Guys put us in position to win the game and I didn't come through for them."

Kevin Love had 21 points and Tristan Thompson recorded 14 points with a season-high 19 rebounds for Cleveland.

Patrick Beverley buried a 3-pointer before Josh Smith canned two free throws to give the Rockets a 104-100 lead with 2:21 left in overtime. James hit a wide open trey with under a minute left, then he squandered and opportunity to possibly win the game late.

James was fouled by Smith with 4.2 seconds left, but the four-time MVP missed both free throws and Harden made 1-of-2 at the other end with under a second on the clock to account for the final margin.

"We're growing as a team," said Harden. "Lately we've been believing in each other. Games like this we find a way to win."

James Jones hit three 3-pointers as part of an 11-0 run to open the fourth quarter which helped Cleveland tie the game at 82-82. Corey Brewer and Jason Terry responded with respective 3-pointers to push Houston ahead by six.

The quarter of runs continued with the Cavs going on an 11-2 burst that Thompson capped with an alley-oop slam from James. Harden found Josh Smith with a lengthy pass down court for a basket that moved the Rockets back in front, then he made an acrobatic layup for a 98-95 lead with 1:43 remaining in regulation.

James split a pair of free throws and Thompson knocked down two from the line to tie the game with over a minute left. James missed a stepback jumper on the final possession of regulation and the game went to overtime.

Cleveland was held scoreless over the final 2:51 of the first half as Houston ended the second quarter on a 6-0 spurt to grab a 50-47 lead at the break.

Beverley converted a three-point play to cap a 10-2 run for the Rockets to open the third quarter.

James knocked down a jumper later in the frame to cut the Cavs deficit to four, but Harden went on personal 9-2 run for a 78-67 lead. Houston led by eight entering the fourth.

Game Notes

Houston has won six straight meetings over the Cavs ... Kyrie Irving missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury ... Cleveland scored 25 points off 23 turnovers ... The Cavs shot 11-for-21 from the free throw line ... Harden went 15-of-18 from the line.