Rockets rally for 10th straight win
Harden’s big fourth helps hold off Pelicans; Hornets stun OKC for rare road victory
Clint Capela had a career-high 28 points and James Harden scored 12 straight points for Houston in the fourth quarter as the Rockets rallied for a 130-123 victory over New Orleans to extend their winning streak to 10 games on Monday night.
The game was tied with about three minutes remaining after Harden made two free throws. Those were the first of seven straight points by Harden that put Houston’s up 124-119 with 1:30 left.
Jrue Holiday made a basket after that, but Harden hit a 3-pointer seconds later to push the lead to 127-121. Harden stole the ball from E’Twaun Moore after a timeout by New Orleans. He was fouled and made both free throws to make it 129121 with 34 seconds left.
After scoring 48 points in Houston’s last game, Harden finished with 26 on Monday, but he tied a career-high with 17 assists, finding the 6-foot-10 Capela under the basket again and again.
Holiday had a seasonhigh 37 points for the Pelicans. Moore had a careerhigh 36 points and made a career-most six 3-pointers on a night New Orleans set a franchise record with 18 3-pointers.
HORNETS 116, THUNDER 103 » Dwight Howard scored 23 points to help Charlotte earn its second road win of the season in 12 tries.
Russell Westbrook had 30 points and seven assists and Paul George scored 20 points for the Thunder after missing the previous two games with a right calf contusion.
BULLS 108, CELTICS 85 » Nikola Mirotic scored 24 points, Bobby Portis added a career-high 23 to help Chicago blow out Boston with Celtics star Kyrie Irving sidelined because of a bruised left quadriceps.
Owners of the NBA’s worst record, the Bulls built an 18-point lead in the second quarter against the Eastern Conference leaders. And when Boston cut it to 12 in the fourth, the Bulls simply pulled away for their third straight win.
HEAT 107, GRIZZLIES 82 » Goran Dragic scored 19 points and seven Heat players scored in double figures to send Memphis to its 15th loss in 16 games. THOMPSON RETURNING TO CAVS » Sidelined since Nov. 1 with a calf injury, Tristan Thompson could play Tuesday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks — but not as a starter.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Thompson will come off the bench, and Kevin Love will remain the starting center. The Cavs have won 14 of 15 and Lue doesn’t want to disrupt the chemistry.
“If I don’t play, that’s fine as long as we’re winning I’m going to cheer my teammates on,” Thompson said Monday.
Since he’s been out, the Cavs went 16-3. Lue has tinkered with his rotation, and Cleveland now has a second unit featuring Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver and Channing Frye that helped the Cavs reel off 13 straight wins. While Thompson has returned, the Cavs still don’t have a clear date for point guard Isaiah Thomas to play after being sidelined all season with a hip injury. He took part in 3-on-3 drills Monday. The Cavs have roughly targeted his debut by the end of the month.