Rockets set team record for most wins

HOUSTON 114 NEW ORLEANS 91

James Harden scored 27 points in three quarters and the Houston Rockets routed the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 114-91 on Saturday night for their eighth straight victory.

The NBA-leading Rockets improved to 59-14 to overtake the 199394 championship team for the most wins in franchise history.

“The edge is going to be there no matter what,” Harden said of the late push. “We haven’t done anything. We don’t have time to relax.”

Houston never trailed and already had a huge lead to start the fourth before scoring seven straight points to make it 92-63. Clint Capela had 18 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and tied a career high with six blocks. Eric Gordon added 19 points as Chris Paul missed his second straight game because of a sore left hamstring. Coach Mike D’Antoni said Paul felt better and could play Sunday.

The Pelicans, who were playing their fifth game in seven days, finally ran out of gas and looked worn out from the start. Entering Saturday’s game they had played on three consecutive nights from Tuesday through Thursday because of a rescheduled game and won all of them to extend their winning streak to four games.

“I don’t want to use that as an excuse,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “I do think we were a little tired and we got off to a rough start and this is not a team you want to get off to a rough start with.”

Anthony Davis, who also sat out the fourth quarter, led New Orleans with 25 points and had eight rebounds and four blocks. Rajon Rondo missed the game with a sprained right wrist.

at Philadelphia 120, Minnesota 108: at Detroit 117, Chicago 95:

Anthony Tolliver scored 25 points and the Pistons won for the third time in four games to pull within 51⁄2 games of Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the East.

Charlotte 102, at Dallas 98: at Orlando 105, Phoenix 99: Lakers 100, at Memphis 93