The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Houston Rockets, 135-133, in double overtime at AT & T Center on Tuesday night.

The in-state rivals engaged in a regular-season classic, but the game actually was in danger of slipping away from the Spurs (8-14) after a competitive first quarter. The Rockets (13-7) outscored San Antonio by a 72-54 margin during the middle periods to take a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter. The home squad would then outpace their visitors by a 34-18 margin over the final 12 minutes to force the first overtime, and an offensive charge call on James Harden, who scored 50 points with the help of a record 24-for-24 tally from the free-throw line, with 0.8 seconds left sealed the win for the Spurs.

Harden added nine rebounds, six assists and four steals to his game-high scoring total. Clint Capela followed with a 22-point, 21-rebound double-double that also included two assists, two blocks and one steal. Russell Westbrook generated a 19-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included two steals and one block. Austin Rivers matched Westbrook's scoring total and also pulled down four boards. Ben McLemore poured in 11 points, while P.J. Tucker stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks.

Lonnie Walker IV led the Spurs with a career-high 28 points and complemented them with four rebounds and three steals. Bryn Forbes supplied 25 points, four assists and two rebounds. DeMar DeRozan registered 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds and one block. Rudy Gay contributed 14 points, five boards, two assists, one steal and one block. Derrick White pitched in 12 points.

The Rockets remain on the road and head north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, while the Spurs remain home and take on the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.