Harden’s 41 guide Rockets to 12th straight W
Spurs hold off LeBron, Cavs • Pelicans extend streak to 5 • Wizards snap Sixers 7-game run
James Harden scored a game-high 41 points and helped close out the Houston Rockets’ 12th consecutive victory, a 119-114 win over the host Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
After the Nuggets cut what was a 100-83 deficit earlier in the fourth quarter to four points, Harden sank a pair of free throws before drilling a step-back jumper over Jamal Murray. Harden shot 11-of-20 from the field, including 6-of-10 on three-point attempts, while adding eight rebounds and seven assists.
Chris Paul chipped in 23 points and six assists while Trevor Ariza scored 14 for the Rockets.
Will Barton paced Denver with 25 points while Nikola Jokic had his streak of games with a triple-double snapped at three, posting 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
Murray scored 19 for the Nuggets, who had their five-game home winning streak snapped. Denver produced an 18-6 run midway through the fourth to muster tension yet fell to 0-3 against the Rockets.
Harden keyed the Rockets’ dominance in the first quarter, pouring in 17 points in the period to help Houston to a 13-point advantage entering the second. He was particularly effective down the stretch of the period, blitzing Denver for 13 points over the final two minutes of the frame.
Harden followed his four-point play at the 2:12 mark with a three-point play the following possession, victimizing Nuggets guard Devin Harris both times. He added a three-pointer with 1:01 left before adding three free throws when Harris fouled him again with 29.3 seconds remaining.
Houston extended to an 18-point lead early in the second quarter before opening the door for Denver with a flurry of turnovers as the Nuggets to cut the deficit to 45-38.
The Rockets found stability when Harden returned, pushing their lead to 66-48 before Denver managed the final four points of the half. Harden had 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting in the half.
Spurs 110, Cavaliers 94
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and Danny Green added 22 as San Antonio did everything right in the final 12 minutes while rolling to a win at Cleveland.
San Antonio opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that produced an 87-74 advantage with 9:22 to play. Cleveland never got within eight points the rest of the way in an anticlimactic finish to what was a close game for three quarters. The Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak and finished their road trip 2-4.
LeBron James led all scorers with 33 points and collected 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost two of their past three games after winning four straight.
Pelicans 123, Bucks 121 (OT)
Jrue Holiday scored 15 points in the third quarter and finished with 36 as visiting New Orleans held off Milwaukee in overtime.
The Pelicans won their fifth consecutive game, their longest winning streak in three years. They won their sixth straight overtime game and second in three days.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 12 assists for the Pelicans. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe scored 20 each.
Wizards 109, 76ers 94
Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Otto Porter Jr. added 23 as Washington defeated visiting Philadelphia.
The result ended a seven-game Philadelphia winning streak, which was the longest active run in the East.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (19 points) and Marcin Gortat (13 points and 10 rebounds) both pitched in for the Wizards, who improved to 9-3 since John Wall has been out due to left knee surgery. He is off crutches and should be sidelined at least three more weeks.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Ben Simmons had 16 points in defeat.
Hornets 114, Pistons 98
Dwight Howard and Kemba Walker each scored 17 points as host Charlotte produced its first four-game winning streak of the season, blasting Detroit.
Nic Batum, who made a game-high four three-pointers, tallied 15 points and nine assists for the Hornets. Howard grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.
Blake Griffin scored 20 points for the Pistons, who have lost five of their past six games. Reggie Bullock and Andre Drummond each added 14 points, with Drummond pulling down 14 rebounds.