HOUSTON _ Tim Hardaway Jr. would not _ and frankly could not _ be stopped.
The Hawks guard single-handedly brought his team back from a 20-point four-quarter deficit in another shocking victory.
Hardaway scored a career-high 33 points, 23 in the final quarter, as the Hawks defeated the Rockets 113-108 Thursday night at the Toyota Center.
His dramatics made for a boisterous postgame locker room and teammates willing to fetch him anything he needed or wanted. Kent Bazemore offered to fix him a plate of food. Dennis Schroder brought him deodorant. The last Hawks player with 20 or more points in a quarter was Joe Johnson in the fourth quarter on Nov. 14, 2008 with 21 points at New Jersey.
Hardaway deflected much of the praise directed his way following the game.
"Obviously Tim Hardaway was special on offense," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Dwight Howard finished with a double-double of 24 points and 23 rebounds in his return to Houston, and Paul Millsap added 16 points for the Hawks (29-21).
Howard was cheered when the Rockets played a tribute video during a first-quarter timeout.
The fans got back to booing after Howard had four of the Hawks' first six baskets _ and they were all dunks. He had a double-double in the first half with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
James Harden scored 41 points to go along with eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals for the Rockets (36-17).
Hawks players called the win special. They have some impressive victories on the season. A win at the Cavaliers. A home win over the Spurs. Erasing a 20-point deficit at the Bucks. Overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes against the Bulls. A four overtime win over the Knicks.
This might be the best yet.
"This is the most talented league in the world," Bazemore said. "Twenty points in the NBA can be erased in the blink of an eye. You have to keep fighting. And the fact that we were on national TV, the few chances we get, it's good to put up a fight."
