HOUSTON — Gary Neal scored 29 points and Tony Parker had a triple-double to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 134-126 overtime win against the Houston Rockets on Monday night.
Parker had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to complement Neal’s 7-for-10 shooting from 3-point range.
Jeremy Lin had his best game since joining the Rockets, scoring a career high-tying 38 points with leading scorer James Harden sidelined by a sprained right ankle.
Neal’s last 3-pointer followed by a three-point play by Manu Ginobili put the Spurs ahead 130-122 with two minutes to go in overtime, and they held on for the win. It was San Antonio’s fifth straight win overall and second over Houston in three days after a 114-92 victory Friday.
The Rockets provided a stronger challenge in this one after San Antonio never trailed in Friday’s win.
Houston fell to 0-2 since coach Kevin McHale returned to the bench Saturday after taking a leave of absence Nov. 10 to be with his family as his daughter’s health worsened. Alexandra “Sasha” McHale died Nov. 24 of complications from lupus. She was 23.
A 3-pointer by Ginobili put the Spurs up two before Omer Asik tied it on a jumper with 37 seconds to go. Parker then missed a shot, but Lin dribbled out the shot clock under pressure from Danny Green, giving the Spurs another chance.
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