Sexton scores 29 as Cavs hold off Rockets
CLEVELAND — Rookie Collin Sexton scored a season-high 29 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame 40 points by Houston’s James Harden to win consecutive games for the first time this season, beating the Rockets 117-108 on Saturday night.
Sexton, taken with the eighth pick in the draft, was 14 for 21 from the floor and hit several key baskets in the second half as the Cavaliers held off multiple runs from the Rockets.
Cleveland (4-14) won 121-112 in Philadelphia on Friday and rode that momentum against the Rockets, who played without star point guard Chris Paul.
Harden, playing the entire second half, was 14 for 30 from the floor with 13 assists. The reigning MVP scored 24 points in the first half, including 15 for the second straight night in the first quarter. Harden has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games.
Harden made two free throws in the third quarter, but both were waved off because of his own foul line violations.
Paul, who is second on the team in scoring and leads Houston in assists, was rested after the Rockets lost in overtime to Detroit on Friday. Eric Gordon started at point guard and scored 28 points.
Tristan Thompson had 16 points and 20 rebounds for Cleveland. Jordan Clarkson added 20 points.
Sexton and Clarkson hit baskets after Houston cut a 10-point deficit to 106-102 with five minutes to play. Rodney Hood’s 3-pointer gave Cleveland a 115-104 lead with 2:47 remaining.
The first half had 12 lead changes. Cleveland hit five 3-pointers in the second quarter, including two by Kyle Korver that helped the Cavaliers go ahead Cleveland’s Collin Sexton pulls up for a shot against Houston’s Clint Capela during Saturday’s game. 59-50. That was the biggest lead for either team in the half.
MAVERICKS 113, CELTICS 104: WARRIORS 117, KINGS 116: the Kings had called timeout — which was granted with 0.3 seconds on the clock. The Warriors subsequently called their own, and the Kings failed to get a shot. Durant converted two free throws with 1:27 left and also had 13 rebounds and seven assists, while Thompson wound up with 31 points — the second straight night the two each scored 30 or more. BUCKS 135, SPURS 129: