HARDEN LIFTS ROCKETS PAST PELS
James Harden had another MVP-like performance to lead Houston Rockets to their fourth straight win
James Harden scored 41 points, becoming the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson to record at least 35 points and five assists in seven consecutive games, to power the Houston Rockets to a 108-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night in New Orleans.
Harden had 26 points in the first half and reached 40 for the third straight game. He was 7 for 16 from 3-point range, made all 14 free throws and added six assists.
Anthony Davis looked sluggish a night after scoring a season-high 48 points in a victory over Dallas, taking only five shots in the first half and finishing with 22 points. Julius Randle led the Pelicans with 23 points and 11 rebounds. NUGGETS 122, SUNS 118
In Phoenix, Jamal Murray scored 46 points and made a career-high nine 3-pointers to carry Western Conference-leading Denver over Phoenix.
Murray was 16 for 24 from the field with the second-most points he’s scored in a game this season. He scored 31 a night earlier in a win over San Antonio.
Nikola Jokic added 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Denver, while Malik Beasley came off the bench to hit a career-high five 3-pointers for his 15 points.
Rookie Deandre Ayton scored a season-high 33 points and added 14 rebounds for the Suns. Ayton made 12-of-13 shots in the second quarter for 24 points, the highest-scoring quarter by a Suns rookie and sixth-highest overall in franchise history.
WIZARDS 130, HORNETS 126 In Washington, Trevor Ariza scored 24 points and was one of seven Washington players in double figures as the Wizards beat Charlotte amid news five-time AllStar guard John Wall will have season-ending surgery.
Thomas Bryant added 21 points and 10 rebounds and Ariza had nine assists and seven rebounds for Washington, which won for the third time in 12 games.
The Wizards announced Saturday that Wall would undergo surgery to address bone spurs in his left heel and miss at least six months.
Kemba Walker scored 24 of his 47 points in the fourth quarter and nearly lifted Charlotte to a remarkable comeback when his 3-pointer cut the lead to a point with 1.9 seconds to play.
WARRIORS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 105 scored 32 points, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant each had 25 and Golden State avenged a loss from earlier this week, beating Portland.
Golden State, stinging from a 110-109 home loss to the Blazers on Thursday, outscored Portland in each of the first three quarters to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the season.
Damian Lillard made six 3-pointers and scored 40 points for Portland. It was the fifth time this season Lillard, who made the go-ahead 3-pointer in the victory at Oracle Arena, has scored at least 40 points.
In Los Angeles, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 38 points and San Antonio beat Los Angeles.
DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Spurs, who won for the fifth time in their past seven games. Rudy Gay had 12 points, and San Antonio’s starters combined for 97 points with all five in double figures.
Danilo Gallinari had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who had won three straight at home. Montrezl Harrell scored 21 points and Lou Williams had 16 points and seven assists. /