Williams, Harden pave the way for Rockets in win over OKC
HOUSTON >> Lou Williams scored 31 points, James Harden finished with 22 points and 12 assists, and the Houston Rockets cruised to a 137-125 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook had 39 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double and his 36th this season, but Harden led the Rockets to a 25-point lead through three quarters in the matchup between top MVP candidates.
Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon added 24 points apiece for the Rockets, whose lead was trimmed to eight on a 3-pointer by Westbrook with about 90 seconds left. The Rockets then scored four quick points to secure the victory. CELTICS 112, HEAT 108 >> Isaiah Thomas scored 30 points, including 20 in the second half, and Boston beat Miami for its fourth straight victory.
The win moved Boston (48-26) within percentage points of Cleveland (47-25) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics also equaled their win total from last season.
Jae Crowder added points and six rebounds 25 for the Celtics. BULLS 109, BUCKS 94 >> Nikola Mirotic tied a season high with 28 points, Jimmy Butler had 20 points and a career-high 14 assists, and the Bulls pulled awy for the win.
Butler broke his previous career best for assists (12) by the end of a pivotal third quarter, when Chicago stretched a one-point lead at the half to 91-79 going into the fourth.
Butler punctuated the second-half runaway with a backcourt steal off a telegraphed pass by Greg Monroe before strolling the other way for an easy dunk and 17-point lead with 8:55 left. KINGS 98, CLIPPERS 97 >> Willie Cauley-Stein made a follow shot with two seconds left, lifting Sacramento to the road win.
Down 85-67 early in the fourth, the Kings rallied while Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan were resting. Buddy Hield hit three 3-pointers in the final minutes, pulling the Kings to 96-93 with 2:10 to play.
Griffin made one of two free throws with 1:57 left before the Kings cut it to 9796 on Langston Galloway’s 3-pointer with 1:23 to play.
After Jamal Crawford missed a 3-pointer, Cauley-Stein finished off a fast break with the deciding basket. HORNETS 120, SUNS 106 >> Kemba Walker had 31 points and nine assists, and Charlotte handed Phoenix its eighth straight loss.
Marvin Williams added 21 points and Nic Batum had 18 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have won four of their last five games as they try to make a late playoff push.
Suns guard Devin Booker, who became the sixth player in NBA history to score 70 points in a loss Saturday night to the Boston Celtics, got off to a slow start but finished with 23 points on 7-of17 shooting. TJ Warren had 21 points and 10 rebounds. NETS 107, HAWKS 91 >> Brook Lopez scored 23 points and Brooklyn handed Atlanta its seventh straight loss.
Jeremy Lin had 19 points for the Nets (16-57), who have won three of four and are 7-8 in March.
The Hawks are tied with Milwaukee for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta (37-36) continued to struggle without All-Star Paul Millsap, who missed his fifth straight game with left knee tightness. The Hawks also were without Kent Bazemore, who missed his fourth straight game with a right knee bone bruise, and Thabo Sefolosha (right groin strain).