Clippers overcome Harden’s second straight 51-point game

HOUSTON Austin Rivers scored a career-high 36 points and made six 3-pointers, and the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers withstood James Harden’s second straight 51-point performance to beat the Houston Rockets 128-118 on Friday night.

The Rockets had a 14-game winning streak snapped by the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, and lost consecutive games for just the second time this season and the first since Oct. 28 and 30.

THUNDER 120, HAWKS 117

Russell Westbrook hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to cap a 30-point, 15-assist outing, and Oklahoma City held off Atlanta.

Carmelo Anthony added 24 points on 7-of-12 3-point shooting, and Paul George scored 17 points for the Thunder. They have won five of their last six after an 11-14 start.

BUCKS 109, HORNETS 104

Khris Middleton scored 28 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 and Milwaukee overcame a late deficit to beat Charlotte.

After Kemba Walker gave Charlotte a 104-100 lead with 2:24 remaining, Milwaukee closed on a 9-0 run, the Bucks tied it on dunks by Antetokounmpo and Middleton and took the lead on Eric Bledsoe’s layup.

PISTONS 104, KNICKS 101

Andre Drummond had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Deroit rallied to beat New York.

Tobias Harris scored 24 points to help the Pistons win for the fourth time in five games.

HEAT 113, MAVERICKS 101

Wayne Ellington tied a career high with 28 points, Josh Richardson had 24 and injuryravaged Miami never trailed against Dallas,

Tyler Johnson added 19 points for Miami, which shot 64 per cent - second-best in franchise history. The Heat started both halves with 12-0 runs and went 16 for 25 from 3-point range.

NETS 119, WIZARDS 84

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 21 points and 11 rebounds in Brooklyn’s victory over Washington.