Spurs down Rockets after Harden miss, 120-118.

The Beard got a great look at a potential game winner, but the ball hit back iron and bounced off the backboard, the buzzer sounding a home defeat for the Houston Rockets, bested by rival foe San Antonio after Brandon Ingram made two clutch free throws.

Chris Paul had scored 17 by halftime, finishing with 27 on the night, but it was defense that gave the Spurs separation, a steal here, a dunk in transition on the fast break.

STATS
T.J. Warren: 24 points, 5 blocks
Avery Bradley: 18 points, 3 steals
Patty Mills: 17 points
Iman Shumpert: 16 points, 4 steals
Dragan Bender: 13 points
Dejounte Murray: 10 assists
Brandon Ingram: 12 points, 5 fouls

Chris Paul: 30 points, 11/24
James Harden: 28 points, missed potential GW three-pointer
Carmelo Anthony: 17 points
Eric Gordon: 11 points
Clint Capela: 10 points, 13 rebounds

The Spurs did one better than the Rockets, responding to Houston's 8-0 run in the third quarter with a 12-2 run of its own. Shumpert's three-pointer made 95-86 in the fourth later on, and Warren buried a 3PTer after Patty Mills stole the ball from Clint Capela, 116-118, Spurs. Before Harden's chance to win it all, Eric Gordon was blocked on his own corner 3PT attempt.