Harden scores 60 in 31 minutes, Rockets rout Hawks
HOUSTON » James Harden scored a season-high 60 points in 31 minutes and the Houston Rockets sent the struggling Atlanta Hawks to their 10th straight loss with a
158-111 romp Saturday night. Harden came one point shy of matching his career high and franchise record on a night he made eight 3-pointers and 20 free throws. He watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench with Houston up 12773 at the end of three.
It was his fourth career
60-point game, tying him with Michael Jordan for third-most in NBA history, trailing only Kobe Bryant (six) and Wilt Chamberlain
(32). Harden is the only active player who has scored 60 points more than once.
The Rockets were missing starters Clint Capela and Danuel House because of illnesses, but still had no trouble handling an Atlanta team that hasn’t won since Nov. 12.
The flat effort came a night after the Hawks fell by one point in overtime to the Pacers in a game where Trae Young tied career-highs with 49 points and eight 3-pointers. BUCKS 137, HORNETS 96 » Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points but his double-double streak ended at 19 games when he grabbed nine rebounds in 20 minutes as Milwaukee coasted.
Milwaukee (17-3) won its 11th straight game and matched its highest point total of the season. The Bucks held a 17-point halftime lead and extended it to 101-75 entering the fourth quarter, allowing the reigning MVP to sit out the final period. KINGS 100, NUGGETS 97 » Harrison Barnes scored six of his season-high 30 points in overtime, Buddy Hield hit two free throws with 9.5 seconds left and Sacramento rallied to beat Denver.
Sacramento trailed by 17 at halftime and didn’t lead until Barnes made a jumper early in overtime. Gary Harris’
3-pointer put the Nuggets up
95-94, but Barnes answered with two free throws and scored on a short lean-in shot.
Suspension over, Waiters back with Heat
MIAMI » Dion Waiters returned to practice with the
Miami Heat Saturday, apologizing publicly for the incident on the team plane that led to his 10-game suspension.
Waiters will be with the team for its three-game trip to Brooklyn, Toronto and Boston that starts on Sunday. He has yet to play this season and has been suspended for 11 of 18 Heat games — costing him about $920,000, pending appeals.
“I would like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, basketball staff, the fans and the entire organization for the incident that happened on the team plane,” Waiters
said in a statement distributed by the team. “I was wrong and take responsibility for what happened and am sorry for what it put everyone through.”
Morant (back) is ‘week-to-week’
MEMPHIS, TENN. » Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Ja Morant didn’t travel for the team’s Sunday game at Minnesota due to back spams.
The Grizzlies said Saturday in a release that Morant’s status is considered “week-to-week.”