George, Westbrook lead Thunder rally against Rockets

Clippers overcome 28-point deficit to sink Celtics

HOUSTON, Feb 10, (AP) - Paul George scored 45 points, Russell Westbrook matched the NBA record with his ninth straight tripledouble and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 26-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 117112 on Saturday night.

Westbrook had 21 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds to match the record streak set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. Westbrook has 22 triple-doubles this season and 126 overall. He also had 10 turnovers and was 8 of 21 from the field.

James Harden led the Rockets with 42 points, reaching 30 points for the 29th straight game – two shy of Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history, but far behind Chamberlain’s record run of 65 games. Harden was 11 for 28 from the field, going 6 of 16 from 3-point range, and made 14 of 15 free throws.

The 26-point deficit was Oklahoma City’s largest of the season.

Westbrook gave the Thunder a one-point lead with a driving layup with 26.9 seconds remaining. On the following possession, Harden missed a 3-pointer, and George got the rebound and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left. He made both free throws put Oklahoma City up three. Houston turned it over on the following inbound play.

George made 12 of 22 shots, hit 6 of 14 3-pointers and made 15 of 18 free throws to finish four points shy of his career-high 49 points set in 2013 with Indiana.

In

Boston,

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Harrell forced two turnovers in the final two minutes and Patrick Beverley hit a pair of 3-pointers in front of the Boston bench night and retooled Los Angeles overcome a 28-point deficit.

One game after the Lakers rallied from 18 points down to win in Boston on Rajon Rondo’s buzzerbeater – and six days after the Patriots beat the Rams in the Super Bowl – the Clippers turned the “Beat L.A.! chants” to boos. The Celtics collapse corresponded to the loss of Kyrie Irving, who left with a sprained knee in the second quarter, when the game seemed comfortably in hand.

Harrell scored 21 points, Danilo Gallinari had 19 points and 10 rebounds

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, (center), shoots as Houston Rockets guard James Harden, (left), defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Feb 9 in Houston. Oklahoma City won 117-112. (AP)

and trade deadline acquisition Landry Shamet scored 17 points.

Gordon Hayward scored 19 points and Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier had 16 apiece for Boston. The Celtics followed their highestscoring half of the season with their lowest-scoring quarter and lost at home to a team from Los Angeles for the second straight time.

Boston scored 15 straight points and finished the first quarter with a 23-point lead, then extended it to 68-40 in the second. The Celtics led 74-53 at halftime, but the Clippers outscored them 28-12 in the third.

Los Angeles finally tied it 100-all, bringing boos from the crowd that expected an easy victory against a team that traded away leading scorer Tobias Harris at the deadline and added five new players. Gallinari followed with a jumper to give the Clippers their first lead.

In New York, Marc Gasol had seven points and six rebounds in his Toronto debut and the Raptors sent New York to its 16th straight loss.

their last 31 games.

In Milwaukee, Jonathan Isaac scored 17 points, Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross each added 15 and Orlando snapped Milwaukee’s six-game winning streak.

The NBA-leading Bucks played without All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. He sat out with right knee soreness. They lost for just the second time in 14 games.

Eric Bledsoe had 19 points for Milwaukee.

In Atlanta, Kemba Walker hit nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Marvin Williams added 27 points and Charlotte beat Atlanta to snap a two-game skid.

Jeremy Lamb had 24 points to help the Hornets win for the eighth time in their last 13 games. John Collins had 21 points and Trae Young added 20 for the Hawks.

In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Utah beat San Antonio.

Royce O’Neale tied his season high with 17 points and made all four of his 3-point attempts, and Ricky Rubio had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists to help the Jazz win for the third time in four games.

DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points for the Spurs. They have lost four in a row on their eight-game trip while their home arena hosts a 17-day stock show and rodeo.

In Indianapolis, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Indiana beat

New York Knicks’ Mario Hezonja (8) fights for control of the ball with Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball

game on Feb 9 in New York. The Raptors won 104-99. (AP)

Cleveland for its fifth straight victory.

Darren Collison added 18 points, Myles Turner had 14 points and eight rebounds and Domantas Sabonis added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson led the Cavaliers with 18 points.

In Chicago, Bradley Beal scored 31 points to help Washington beat Chicago in the first meeting between the teams since they swapped three forwards in a multiplayer trade.

The Wizards got Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and a protected 2023 second-round pick from the Bulls on Wednesday for Otto Porter Jr Parker scored 20 points and Portis had 10 points and 12 rebounds against their former team, helping Washington to a 64-38 advantage in bench points.

Zach LaVine scored 26 points for Chicago.

In Memphis, Tenn, Joakim Noah had season highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead new-look Memphis past New Orleans.

Justin Holiday had 15 points and Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 14 points, 10 of them in the fourth. C.J. Miles, playing his first game for Memphis added 13 points to help the Grizzlies win for the third time in four games.

Julius Randle led the Pelicans with 21 points, and Jrue Holiday added 15. Anthony Davis had 14 points and 16 rebounds in his second game returning to the lineup after seeking a trade.