Bradley Beal scored 21 points, and Emeka Okafor had 17 points, 11 rebounds and made the go-ahead free throw with 5.2 seconds remaining to help the Washington Wizards overcome the Houston Rockets’ 3-point barrage for a 105-103 win on Saturday night.
Trevor Ariza added 18 points and John Wall had 12 points and 11 assists for the Wizards, who came back from a 17-point deficit for their second straight win. Washington scored 54 points in the paint and has won 10 of its 12 home games.
James Harden scored 27 points and Chandler Parsons had 24 with five of the 19 3-pointers by the Rockets, who had won their first two games after the All-Star break. Houston attempted 46 3-pointers, the most in the NBA this season. The Rockets made 13 from beyond the arc in the first half, one off the NBA record they tied against Golden State on Feb. 5.
Trailing 94-88 with 6:21 remaining, the Wizards scored seven straight points, taking the lead on Nene’s layup, one of six lead changes in the final 4:58. Wall broke a 101-101 tie with two free throws with 1:13 remaining, but Harden’s layup tied the score with 21.4 seconds left.
Fouled after receiving the ball in the low post, Okafor made his first free throw attempt, but missed the second. Beal sneaked in for the rebound and was fouled with 1.9 seconds remaining. After Beal split the free throws, Harden’s half-court attempt was blocked by Ariza.
Patrick Beverley scored a career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers and Carlos Delfino had four 3-pointers and scored 12 points for the Rockets.
The Rockets hit from long range in the first quarter, sinking 8 of 14 3s for a 32-22 lead. Parsons made his three attempts, and Harden added one during an 11-4 run to close the quarter.
Three more 3-pointers came during a 14-0 spurt as Harden’s bomb put Houston ahead 48-31. The Rockets led 57-46 at halftime, but the Wizards fought back with a 19-6 run highlighted by seven points from Ariza and Wall’s jump shot for a 73-72 lead with 3:14 remaining in the quarter. The Rockets regained the lead and entered the fourth quarter up 83-77.
Wall and Okafor each posted double-doubles in Friday’s 119-113 win over Denver.
Houston won the first meeting at home 99-93 on Dec. 12.
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