TORONTO – The Rockets really are better when they can convince officials to check the replay.
They had to be better in many ways to beat the Toronto Raptors, 119-109, mostly by defeating a defense that went to new extremes to take James Harden out of the offense. But they might have clinched the win with the coaches’ challenge they controversially were not granted on Tuesday in San Antonio.
The Rockets had found enough offense by moving the ball, usually to corner 3s with Ben McLemore providing much of the scoring punch the Raptors took away from Harden.