James Harden spoiled rookie Rui Hachimura's home debut by sinking a game-winning free throw with 2.4 seconds remaining to give the Houston Rockets a 159-158 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Bradley Beal scored a team-high 46 points and Hachimura, who added a career-high 23 points and five rebounds in almost 36 minutes, was one of seven Wizards players to score in double-digits at Capital One Arena.

It was the fourth time in as many NBA games that Hachimura scored in double-digits.

The 21-year-old Japanese was perfect in three tries from behind the three-point line after entering the home opener 0-for-8 from deep on the season. Against the Rockets on Wednesday, he went 9-for-15 from the floor.

He made his first career three in the second quarter and his second of two in the third quarter to give the Wizards a 95-89 lead.

"I'm so glad to see so many Japanese fans," Hachimura said in Japanese when addressing the crowd pre-game.

But 2018 league MVP Harden was unstoppable in producing 59 points, three rebounds, nine assists and one steal for the Rockets. He set up game-winning free throw by drawing a foul on a drive, hitting the first and missing the second from the line.

Harden's recently-added running mate Russell Westbrook finished with a 17-point triple-double.

The Wizards shot 62.6 percent from the field, hit 20 three-pointers and racked up their highest single-game points tally since 1990.

After the game, Hachimura walked off the court while the crowd remained in their seats glued to the big screens watching the Washington Nationals play the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the baseball World Series.

"It was a good game but a disappointing way to lose. I was surprised when I saw midway through the game that Harden had 50 points," Hachimura said.

"I shot my threes the way I always do," the first-round pick said.