The Troy Daniels Game: Rockets back in their series with Blazers after Game 3 OT win
The Houston Rockets have life. They outlasted the Portland Trail Blazers 121-116 in overtime in Game 3 Friday night, and trail their opening-round series 2-1 after a huge win on the road.
The Rockets have rookie shooting guard Troy Daniels to thank. He hit a clutch 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in overtime to break a 116-116 tie, in what was another wild finish in what's been a very entertaining series.
Game 4 goes Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Star Performer
There were star performers in this one. Houston's James Harden led all scorers with 37 points (on 13-of-35 shooting). Damian Lillard had 30 points, six assists, six rebounds, and a steal, and brought Portland back into the game after Houston opened up a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 9-2 run.
Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge had double-doubles. Nicolas Batum had 26 points and nine boards. The stars shined, is what we're tyring to say. But the star performer at the end of the night was the unheralded Daniels, of D-League fame, who introduced himself to the basketball world with a clutch 3-pointer on the road in a building not many teams win in.
Daniels' three punctuated one of the most exciting games of what have been an incredible playoffs so far.
Turning Point and Highlight Reel
The turning point in this one was Daniels' three, to break a 116-116 tie with 11 seconds left in overtime, and it's the only shot you need to see:
From the D-League, to five games with Houston in the regular season, to a shot in the NBA playoffs that may have saved the Rockets' season. Incredible.
Quotes of the Night
Daniels finished with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting in 20 minutes, but this one will go down as The Troy Daniels Game.
For the Houston Rockets, here is why you invest all that time and money into a D-League franchise: Troy Daniels.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 26, 2014
Apparently what Troy Daniels developed in the DLeague was enormous nuts.
— Beckley Mason (@BeckleyMason) April 26, 2014
As a fan , I didn't know why Daniels was in. I questioned it all night. Wow!! He shut me up!!!
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) April 26, 2014
Series at a Glance
Game 1: POR 122, HOU 120 (OT) (Blazers lead 1-0)
Game 2: POR 112, HOU 105 (Blazers lead 2-0)
Game 3: HOU 121, POR 116 (Blazers lead 2-1)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 - 9:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 30 - TBD
Game 6*: Friday, May 2 - TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, May 4 - TBD