HARDEN LIGHTS BLAZERS FOR 48 PTS
Houston Rockets erase 14-point gap in fourth quarter for 8th straight win
James Harden scored 48 points and the Houston Rockets won their ninth straight, overcoming a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-117 on Saturday night.
Harden was 16 of 29 from the field and had eight rebounds to help the Rockets (20-4) win for the 12th time in 13 road games this season. Chris Paul added 24 points, and Trevor Ariza had 13.
Damian Lillard tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers and had 35 points for Portland (13-12). C. J. McCollum had 28 points, and Al-Farouq Aminu added 15, all on 3-pointers.
Portland put Houston in a hole early in the third quarter, scoring 11 consecutive points to take a 7872 lead. The lead grew was at 14 late in the third quarter when Lillard limped to the bench, favoring his right foot. With Lillard’s foot on ice, Houston launched a rally, pulling to 103-98 when Lillard returned with seven minutes remaining. But the Rockets had momentum, and took a 110-109 lead on Ariza’s 3-pointer.
The Rockets never trailed again, outscoring Portland 14-6 during the final three minutes.
CAVALIERS 105, 76ERS 98
In Cleveland, LeBron James had his 58th career triple-double and Cleveland rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Philadelphia.
James had 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists to help the Cavaliers bounce back from a loss in Indiana on Friday night that ended their 13-game winning streak.
Sixers forward Robert Covington fell into Cleveland’s bench trying to save a loose ball with just over a minute to play. He was down for a couple of minutes before being helped to his feet.
Rookie Ben Simmons’ breakaway dunk gave Philadelphia a 96-91 lead, but the Cavaliers ended the game on a 14-2 run. James converted a three-point play and Kyle Korver hit a 3-pointer, giving Cleveland the lead. Dwyane Wade added two baskets and Jae Crowder’s 3-pointer put the Cavaliers ahead 104-98.
James had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists in the fourth quarter in his third triple-double of the season. Covington and J. J. Redick scored 19 points each for Philadelphia.
Both starting centers missed the game. Joel Embiid sat out for Philadelphia because he hasn’t been cleared to play on back-toback nights and Kevin Love didn’t play because of a sore left hip.
THUNDER 102, GRIZZLIES 101, OT
In Memphis, Russell Westbrook overcame a poor shooting night, recording a triple-double, including two clinching free throws with 5.2 seconds left in overtime to lead Oklahoma City past Memphis. /