ATLANTA – The Rockets never imagined themselves needing to hang on, but they likely did not see James Harden going from his most dominant to three quarters as if he pulled the headband over his eyes.
With Russell Westbrook sitting out the first game of the Rockets’ back-to-back before playing in Oklahoma City, Harden toyed with the Hawks to open the game, rushing the Rockets to a 23-point lead.
Then the NBA’s leading scorer, on a streak of sharp-shooting, could not make a shot. The Rockets barely found enough offense down the stretch to hold off the Hawks, 122-115, with Harden making five of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to avoid a loss that had not seemed possible the way the night began.