With the NBA's struggling Houston Rockets needing a victory, James Harden has provided the late-game heroics to cap an emotional day.
The 100kg guard fired in 45 points, including all nine of Houston's in overtime on Wednesday with the Rockets rallying for a thrilling 108-103 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
"Tonight we had to focus on getting a win, that was the most important thing," he said.
"Whatever happened this morning, my mindset was just to be great at what I do and that's being the leader and supporting the team."
Behind Harden, the Rockets (5-7) snapped a four-game slide and gave interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff his first win hours after being promoted from assistant to replace fired Kevin McHale.
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"It didn't happen the way I would have liked it to happen but we're here," Bickerstaff said.
"I'm confident I can do things to get our team to go where we need to go."
The Rockets wiped out a 17-point third-quarter deficit and forced overtime at 99-apiece when Harden sent a cross-court pass to Corey Brewer, who splashed down a right side runner with nine-tenths of a second left.
He put on a one-man show in the extra five-minute session and finished with 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals.
Damian Lillard had 23 points and CJ McCollum added 19 for Portland (4-9) losers of seven in a row.
Also on Wednesday, Oklahoma City 110 beat New Orleans 103 with Russell Westbrook scoring 12 of his 43 points in the final three minutes to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists.
Chicago 103 downed Phoenix 97, Jimmy Butler scoring 14 of his season-high 32 points in the final quarter.
Charlotte put paid to Brooklyn 116-111 as Frenchman Nicolas Batum netted 24 points and the host Hornets (6-6) clipping the Nets (2-10) paced by Thaddeus Young's game-high 27.
Orlando's 104 was enough to topple Minnesota by three. Frenchman Evan Fournier had 26 points, including the game-winning triple with 3.1 seconds left in overtime, shooting the Magic (6-6) past the visiting Timberwolves.
Indiana Pacers 112 thrashed Philadelphia 85, Paul George pouring in 34 points.
Utah 93 got past Toronto 89 due largely to 18 points from Derrick Favors, Dallas edged Boston 106-102 with Dirk Nowitzki scoring 23, Atlanta had a 103-97 win over Sacramento with Paul Millsap contributing 23 and San Antonio comfortably outscored Denver 109-98, Tony Parker tossing in a season-best 25.
