Rockets find legs, extend streak to 17
The Rockets had trouble at times holding on to the ball and keeping pace with the young Milwaukee Bucks.
But as long as the Rockets keep hitting their three-pointers, they’re hard to beat.
James Harden scored 26 points, Eric Gordon had 18 points and two momentum-swinging threes in the third quarter, and visiting Houston beat the Bucks 110-99 on Wednesday night for its 17th straight win.
The Rockets passed Boston for the longest winning streak in the NBA this season. Houston hasn’t lost since Jan. 26 at New Orleans.
“We find ways to win,” Harden said. “It’s not going to be the same way every game.”
The latest victory came on the second of a tough back-to-back stretch of road games that started with a 10-point victory at Oklahoma City. No wonder the Rockets looked sluggish at times against the Bucks.
And yet the Rockets still led by 10 for most of the fourth quarter until a late surge by the Bucks sliced the lead to 104-99 with 1:06 left on rookie Sterling Brown’s layup.
Chris Paul answered with a short floater in the lane with 45 seconds left after driving on Jason Terry to silence fans who were chanting, “Defense!”
Houston obliged after forcing the Bucks to waste 15 seconds on the ensuing inbounds pass and settle for an off-balance three that missed. The Rockets led comfortably from there.
“There were a few 50-50 balls or offensive rebounds that we needed to secure that if we do, it gives us an opportunity to run,” Milwaukee head coach Joe Prunty said. “If we run, then maybe we can put them on their heels ... but the ball needs to move.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points. Khris Middleton finished with 18 points for Milwaukee. Brown had a personal-high 15.
Paul had 16 points and 11 assists for the Rockets, who answered every Milwaukee charge.
The Rockets would beat the Bucks down the floor to set up open shots on the wing. Gordon knocked down two threes, and P.J. Tucker added another to help Houston close the third with a 14-7 run for an 87-76 lead.
“With a win streak like this, you are doing a lot of things the right way,” Gordon said. “We still play for each other. We knew this was going to be a tough road trip.” Cavaliers 113, Nuggets 108: LeBron James scored 39 points, including nine down the stretch, and dished out 10 assists as Cleveland won the opener of a six-game road trip despite squandering a 16-point lead. Larry Nance Jr. once again was in the starting lineup for Cleveland with big men Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson out with injuries. Nance had 13 points and 13 boards. Nikola Jokic had 36 points and 13 rebounds for Denver, which lost for the second straight night. Lakers 108, Magic 107: Brook Lopez scored 27 points and hit two free-throw tries with 0.6 of a second to play, and host Los Angeles blew a nine-point lead in the final 90 seconds before rallying to win. Mitty alum Aaron Gordon scored 28 points for Orlando. Pelicans 114, Kings 101: Anthony Davis scored 17 points before rolling his left ankle and leaving in the third quarter, and visiting New Orleans beat Sacramento to match a franchise record with its 10th straight win. Davis went down after fighting Kosta Koufos for a rebound. The five-time All-Star winced and grabbed at his ankle before slowly getting to his feet. X-rays were negative. Raptors 121, Pistons 119: DeMar DeRozan scored 42 points, then fed Fred VanVleet for the tie-breaking jumper from the left corner with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime to lift visiting Toronto. The Raptors became the first NBA team to clinch a playoff berth. Jazz 104, Pacers 84: Rudy Gobert had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell added 20 points and six assists as Utah won in Indianapolis. The Jazz improved to 15-2 over their past 17 games. Ricky Rubio had 18 points and seven assists for Utah, and reserve Jae Crowder added 16 points. Myles Turner led Indiana with 24 points. Bulls Markkanen 119, Grizzlies scored 22 110: points, Lauri Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn added 21 apiece and host Chicago handed Memphis its 15th straight loss. The Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. Lecture will and receiving league start Justin about from playing a Holiday reminder player NBA: Robin again rest The from Lopez and after Bulls the tanking. president Chicago of basketball executive operations vice John Paxson said the league communicated with the team after the All-Star break about those two players and their diminishing roles. Holiday was back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies. Lopez was sitting out his seventh straight game, though head coach Fred Hoiberg said both players will start Friday at Detroit.