Plenty in reserve as Rockets top Blazers

The Rockets’ bench came to the rescue twice Tuesday night, and the second time made the difference.

James Harden had 29 points and seven Rockets scored in double-figures as Houston used a big second-half run and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 111-103 victory over the visiting Trail Blazers.

Chris Paul added a tripledouble with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Clint Capela had 13 points and seven rebounds before fouling out with five minutes left, and Eric Gordon, who started in place of James Ennis, had 14 points for the Rockets, who shot 49 percent from the field.

“We did a good job of just competing, playing harder,” Harden said. “That was really it — playing harder and got into them. We were a little more aggressive. Good things seem to happen when you play harder.”

Houston’s bench played a key role in a 24-6 first-half run that erased a 15-point deficit, and then led a charge in the second half. Gerald Green had 13 points, and Danuel House had 12 off the bench. The Rockets also had a 25-5 run to end the third and start the fourth quarters, opening a 100-83 lead on a three-pointer by Harden with 6:48 left. House and Green each had five points in the run.

“They won the game for us,” Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni said of the reserves. “They turned it around when we were down 15, and they came in, and Nene, Danuel House and Gerald put a lot of energy.”

Damian Lillard had 34 points, CJ McCollum scored 22 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, which shot 44 percent after starting by making seven of nine shots.

“I thought Houston played pretty aggressive defense on us,” Portland head coach Terry Stotts said. “We took some possessions for granted and some turnovers led to their transition.”

Raptors 123, Clippers 99: Serge Ibaka had 25 points and nine rebounds, and visiting Toronto, missing injured Kawhi Leonard, handed Los Angeles its worst loss of the season. Kyle Lowry added 21 points, making four of the Raptors’ 14 three-pointers.

Spurs season-high 11 rebounds 111, Suns 24 points 86: as San Bryn and Antonio Forbes a careerbest had a routed Phoenix. San Antonio has won three straight halfway through a six-game homestand. Phoenix, which was without leading scorer Devin Booker for the fifth straight game, did not lead. The Suns fell to 4-24.