Harden scores 39 points as Rockets beat Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — As usual, scoring comes in concentrated bursts for James Harden.

Harden scored

19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 122-116 on Monday night.

The NBA’s leading scorer has averaged 40.6 points in his last eight games, but missed nine of his first 10 3-point shots. Still, with Houston leading by four midway through the fourth quarter, Harden lit his personal fuse and scored 13 consecutive points in a 1:57 span to push the advantage to 110-93.

TIMBERWOLVES 120, PISTONS 114

In Detroit, Andrew Wiggins scored 33 points, and Minnesota spoiled Blake Griffin’s return, beating the Pistons.

Griffin played for the first time this season, coming back from hamstring and knee issues. Derrick Rose also returned to the Detroit lineup from a strained hamstring, but both he and Griffin played limited minutes.

Griffin scored 19 points but Rose added six.

CELTICS 116, MAVERICKS 106

In Boston, Kemba Walker made a trio of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 29 points, Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and the Celtics beat Dallas in the Celtics’ first game since Gordon Hayward had surgery on his broken left hand.

Daniel Theis chipped in with 11 points and Brad Wanamaker had 10 for Boston, which won its eighth straight game since a season-opening loss at Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum shot 1 for 18 from the field and scored only five points for the Celtics.

GRIZZLIES 113, SPURS 109

In San Antonio, Texas, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and Memphis put a damper on Tony Parker’s jersey retirement by beating the Spurs.

Parker’s uniform was lifted to the rafters alongside fellow Big Three members Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili following the game. They led San Antonio to four of its five championships and have the most wins (541) of any trio in league history.