WATCH: Rockets’ Trevor Ariza Shoots Airball Mistaken For Game-Tying Three In 113-108 Loss To Hawks

With 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks leading 111-108, Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza launched a three-pointer in the hopes of sending the game into overtime.

ariza’s missed 3-Pointer in final seconds sealed Hawks’ Win

At first, it looked like Ariza’s shot was good. The up-close replay, however, clearly showed that it was an airball. The ball hit the near side of the backboard and then grazed the net, which allowed the Hawks to rebound and run down the clock, adding one quick dunk to secure the win in Houston.

 

Ariza missed a similar deceiving final-second three-pointer in February 2013 with the Wizards against the Pistons:

Ariza has made 1,086 three in his career, although some announcers might have erroneously said 1,088 after both these attempts.

Dwight Howard led Atlanta with 24 points and 23 rebounds in his first game in Houston since signing with the Hawks during the offseason.

Atlanta trailed by as many as 20 points and began the fourth quarter down 13 before Howard led a late comeback.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added a career-high 33 points for the Hawks, including a driving dunk with under one minute left that gave Atlanta a three-point lead. Hardaway scored 23 of his points in the fourth quarter.  However, he credited one of his teammates for the win.

”These guys can play all they want, but what was working was DeAndre’ Bembry –– you’ve got to give him all the credit,” Hardaway said. ”He took the challenge of guarding possibly the MVP of the season, it’s a hard task, but he stayed discipline.”

Bembry matched up with James Harden for almost the entire fourth quarter and held him to just six points.

Harden had 41 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Clint Capela added 22 points and nine rebounds.

The Rockets blew their lead when Hardaway was fouled on a driving layup and converted the free throw to give the Hawks a one-point lead with two minutes left.

Hardaway started in place of Thabo Sefolosha, who missed his third straight game with a groin injury. Mike Dunleavy exited the game early in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury and did not return.

As part of their ongoing celebration of the franchise’s 50th season, the Rockets honored former small forward Shane Battier with a video montage during the first half. Battier played five seasons in Houston from 2006 to 2011 and was named to the Rockets’ all-decade team for the 2000s.

The Hawks next host Orlando on Saturday, while the Rockets will host Chicago on Friday.

HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 16: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the basketball against the Los Angeles Clippers during their game at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2016 in Houston, Texas.