James Harden, the league's back-to-back reigning scoring champ entered the game averaging 39.5 points per game - the league-best by a wide margin. Conversely, the Raptors entered the game with an impressive track record of keeping prolific players in check. Early on, it became evident that the Raptors would be all in on containing the back-to-back reigning scoring champ. NBA Live Stream Watch Harden wasted no efforts as he almost surgically picked his spots in the third and fourth quarters to assert himself offensively. He would end up with 23 points (on 7-for-11 shooting), seven rebounds, three assists and five steals.

By keying in on Harden defensively from the jump, Toronto was able to limit his production as a scorer. It wasn't even a matter of making him take difficult shots, it was keeping him out of plays to where he could not get to spots that he could attempt shots. NBA Live Stream Watch Ok, Russell Westbrook isn't exactly to be grouped with the Rockets' supporting cast, but outside of Harden, the team scored 96 points and was 19-for-50 (38.0%) from beyond the arc.. This was a direct product of the Raptors' defensive approach, which almost dared the rest of the team to beat them.