PAUL, HARDEN LIFT HOUSTON OVER LA

Harden, Paul combine for 60 points in Rockets’ 32-point rout of LA Clippers

JAMES Harden scored 31 points, Chris Paul added 29 points, and the Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Clippers 135-103 on Wednesday night in a potential playoff preview.

Clint Capela had 24 points and 15 rebounds to help the Rockets win their fourth in a row. They showed little fatigue in cruising past the NBA’s hottest team while playing their last back-to-back of the season.

The Rockets currently own the third seed in the Western Conference and the Clippers are sixth, which would pair them in the first round.

Paul stunned the crowd by hitting a deep 3-pointer that beat the buzzer to end the third, in which the Rockets outscored the Clippers 34-20.

Rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Clippers with 20 points and Danilo Gallinari added 16. They had won an NBA-best 13 of 15 coming in, but lost for the first time in three meetings with Houston this season.

JAZZ 118, SUNS 97

In Phoenix, Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, leading the playoff-bound Utah Jazz past the Suns.

Phoenix lost star guard Devin Booker with 4:28 left in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while jumping to receive a pass. Booker sprained his left ankle and left the game with eight points.

Joe Ingles scored 15 of his 27 points in the second quarter, and Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Jazz, who remained in fifth place in the Western Conference and have won 11 of 12.

Richaun Holmes’ 16 points and nine rebounds led the Suns, who have lost seven of eight.

HORNETS 115, PELICANS 109

In New Orleans, Kemba Walker scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, and the Charlotte Hornets kept alive their slim playoff hopes with a victory over the Pelicans.

The Hornets trailed by five in the middle of the fourth when Walker’s 3 ignited a 14-6 run that put Charlotte in front for good. He hit a pair of driving layups and a second 3 during the decisive spurt.

Frank Kaminsky added 21 points and rookie Devonte Graham scored a career-high 13 points for the Hornets (36-42), who, with four games to play, sit 2½ games behind Orlando (3940) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. /