With the NBA announcing that its League Pass product is free and open to the public through at least April 22, an entire archive of games from the 2019-20 season have been made available to fans.
The latest promotion is designed to supplement increased physical distancing measures around the world — all aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which prompted the league to indefinitely suspend its 2019-20 season on March 11.
Fans can take advantage of the free offer by signing into their NBA account through NBA.com or the NBA App on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android mobile and tablet devices, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and other supported devices.
Games from the current 2019-20 season can be accessed by sorting through the calendar on the NBA.com Scores page.
Led by two former MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the Rockets (40-24) have clearly been among the league’s most exciting teams to follow this season. With that in mind, here are five games from the 2019 portion of the schedule worth rewatching during the hiatus.
5. Rockets at Washington, Oct. 30
James Harden scored 59 points on a historic night of offense as the Rockets (3-1) defeated the host Wizards, 159-158. The total of 159 is the most scored by the Rockets in any game in franchise history.
Of Harden’s 59 points, 38 came in the second half — with the final point coming on a free throw with 2.4 seconds left to provide the final margin.
The combined 317 points between both teams represents the third-highest point total in NBA history in any game decided in regulation, while the 158 points by the Wizards(1-3) tied the all-time NBA record for the most points in a regulation loss.
The previous franchise scoring record for the Rockets was a game at Denver in 1991 with 156 points.
4. Los Angeles Clippers at Rockets, Nov. 13
James Harden took over the fourth quarter on Nov. 13, scoring 17 points in the final six minutes as the Rockets (8-3) overcame a four-point deficit with under six minutes left to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers (7-4) by a 102-93 margin. Houston closed the game on a 22-9 run.
Late in the game at Toyota Center, with Clippers coach Doc Rivers miffed over a controversial call and yelling at the game officials, his son (and reserve Rockets guard) Austin laughed and repeatedly signaled for the officials to give his father a technical foul.
Ultimately, the officials gave him two, and the younger Rivers smiled as his father left the court with an ejection.
3. San Antonio Spurs at Rockets, Dec. 16
Franchise co-stars Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 59 points as the Rockets overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat their in-state rival San Antonio Spurs, 109-107.
It’s the largest comeback in a victory in Rockets franchise history. Houston trailed by a 69-44 margin with just 1:30 left until halftime, then finished the game on a 65-38 run over the game’s final 25+ minutes.
After allowing 72 points in the first half, the Rockets (18-9) put the clamps on defensively in the second half by holding them to 35 points.
Westbrook scored a game-high 31 points (11-of-25 shooting, 44%) and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Harden had 28 points (10-of-29 shooting, 34.5%), eight rebounds, and seven assists.
2. Rockets at Clippers, Dec. 19
The Rockets went on 40-12 and 17-2 runs in the second half of Thursday’s wild game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the host Clippers, 122-117.
Russell Westbrook led Houston with 40 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the first Rockets player not named James Harden to score 40 or more points in a game since Kevin Martin on Jan. 5, 2011.
Meanwhile, Harden had 28 points and 10 assists, with one of those dimes making him the franchise’s all-time assists leader.
Frontcourt starters P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela offered key defensive contributions, especially late. Tucker had 10 points, 12 rebounds, and largely bottled up Kawhi Leonard in the fourth, while Capela posted 16 points (8-of-9 shooting), eight rebounds, four steals and a game-high plus/minus figure of +27 in his 39 minutes.
1. Denver Nuggets at Rockets, Dec. 31
James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 63 points and 13 assists as the Rockets (23-11) crushed the visiting Nuggets (23-10) on New Year’s Eve in Houston, 130-104.
Denver cut Houston’s 17-point halftime lead to just three points after the third quarter, but the Rockets put them away with a dominant 38-15 closing period at Toyota Center.
Both Harden and Westbrook shot 50% or better from the field, headlined by Harden’s 6-of-9 showing (66.7%) from 3-point range. Harden had 35 points, while Westbrook poured in 28 on 11-of-22 shooting.
Based on standings at the time of the NBA’s current hiatus, the No. 6 Rockets are currently on course to face the No. 3 Nuggets in the first round of the 2020 playoffs (should the season resume). Needless to say, Houston fans are hoping the Dec. 31 result becomes the template.
