NBA: Harden scores a career-high 56 points in a blowout victory.
HOUSTON — James Harden scored a career-high 56 points and added 13 assists in just 35 minutes to lead the Houston Rockets to a 137-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.
Harden finished 19 of 25 from the field after missing his last three attempts. The MVP runner-up was 7 for 7 from beyond the arc until he missed a step-back 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as the shot clock was about to expire.
Even when the Jazz could deny Harden his shot, he passed it off for someone else to score. Eric Gordon scored 20 points.
Harden had 22 points in both the first and third quarters, 30 at halftime and sat for the final 7:32 of the blowout.
HAWKS 117, CAVALIERS 115
In Cleveland, Dennis Schroeder scored 28 points and injury-riddled Atlanta beat Cleveland to end an eight-game losing streak.
Missing five players, Atlanta won for the first time since topping Dallas in the season opener.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love was taken to a hospital with an illness. Coming off his 57-point performance Friday night at Washington, LeBron James had 26 points and 13 assists for Cleveland. The Cavaliers have lost five of seven.
WIZARDS 107, RAPTORS 96
In Toronto, Bradley Beal scored 38 points, Otto Porter Jr. had 19 and Washington overcame the absence of All-Star point guard John Wall to beat Toronto. Wall sat out because of a sprained left shoulder sustained Friday in a 130-122 loss to Cleveland.
KNICKS 108, PACERS 101
In New York, Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 40 points, carrying the Knicks back from a 19-point deficit to a victory.
CELTICS 104, MAGIC 88
In Orlando, Fla., Jaylen Brown scored 18 points and Al Horford added 14 points and 10 rebounds to spark Boston to a victory over Orlando.
HEAT 104, CLIPPERS 101
In Los Angeles, James Johnson made two free throws with 8.7 seconds left and Miami recovered after blowing a 25-point lead, bouncing back to beat Los Angeles.
SPURS 112, SUNS 95
In San Antonio, Texas, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and San Antonio rolled past Phoenix.
TRAIL BLAZERS 103, THUNDER 99
In Portland, Ore., Damian Lillard had 36 points and 13 assists, Jusuf Nurkic added 25 points and Portland held off Oklahoma City.
Paul George topped the Thunder with 27 points. Russell Westbrook had 25 points and nine assists.
Oklahoma City played much of the second half without Carmelo Anthony. He was ejected from the game with 4:26 left in the third quarter following a flagrant foul.
LAKERS 107, GRIZZLIES 102
In Los Angeles, Brook Lopez scored 21 points, Brandon Ingram added 20 and Los Angeles blew most of a 22-point lead before hanging on for their third victory in four games.
Kyle Kuzma had 13 points and 12 rebounds in his second start for the Lakers.