Surging Rockets blow past struggling Spurs
James Harden scored 16 of his 28 points in the third quarter to allow the Houston Rockets to build a huge lead and sail to an easy 109-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
The NBA’s leading scorer took a little while to get going a night after sitting out against Dallas with a sore left knee and had just 12 points at halftime.
Despite his slow start, the Rockets had a comfortable lead in the third and were still up by 13 with about eight minutes left in the quarter. It was then thatHarden took over, scoring the next eight points to start a 16- 4 run that extended the lead to 82- 57 with about 3 ½ minutes left in the third.
The Spurs, who were without leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge, lost for the fifth time in six games as they fight for a playoff spot.
Chris Paul finished with 18 points and nine assists for the Rockets.
• Popovich said before the game that he didn’t have any update on when Kawhi Leonard could return amid recent reports that he could return later this week. Leonard has played just nine games this season because of a quadriceps injury.
TRAIL BLAZERS 115, HEAT 99 >> Damian Lillard had 32 points and 10 assists, Jusuf Nurkic added 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Portland won its 10th straight, the longest current streak in the NBA.
Portland maintained a two-game lead over Oklahoma City for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. THUNDER 106, KINGS 101 >> Russell Westbrook scored 17 points and notched his 20th triple- double of the season as Oklahoma City improved to 7-3 since the All-Star break.
Westbrook had 10 rebounds and 11 assists in the 99th triple-double of his career.
Paul George and Carmelo Anthony each scored 21 points for the Thunder, who moved into fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
Thunder center Steven Adams left the game in the third quarter with a left hip contusion. Just two days earlier against San Antonio, he hurt his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
BUCKS 121, GRIZZLIES 103 >> Khris Middleton scored 24 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 20 to help send Memphis to its 18th consecutive loss.
Brandon Jennings, signed to a 10- day contract by Milwaukee on Saturday, finished two rebounds short of a triple- double with 16 points and 12 assists. HAWKS >> Guard Kent Bazemore will miss the remainder of the season with a bone bruise in his right knee.
The former Warrior, tied for second on the teamwith his average of 12.9 points per game, left Sunday’s loss to Chicago after landing awkwardly.
CELTICS >> Rookie Daniel Theis is likely out for the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Theis is averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.