Coasting to victory
Parsons scores a career-high 31 points to help Rockets beat Knicks
HOUSTON: The Houston Rockets coasted to a 131-103 victory over the New York Knicks as James Harden scored 33 points, and Chandler Parsons has a career-high 31 on Friday.
Jeremy Lin added 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Houston in the first game against his former team.
Carmelo Anthony had a seasonhigh37 for New York, which dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98 to improve to an NBA-best nine wins from two losses.
Rudy Gay scored 21 points, Mike Conley added 19, and Zach Randolph had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lakers, playing their third road game in four nights, have lost all four road games this season and their second straight with new coach Mike D’Antoni on the bench. Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Boston’s Paul Pierce scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half as the Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-100 to snap a twogame losing streak.
Kevin Garnett had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Rajon Rondo finished with 16 assists and eight rebounds for the Celtics.
Kevin Durant scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, which lost for just the second time in its last 10 games. Russell Westbrook had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Brook Lopez had 26 points for Brooklyn including consecutive baskets during the decisive stretch as and the Nets shut down the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter for an 86-76 win.
Paul and Blake Griffin each had 14 points for the Clippers, who have dropped two in a row following a six-game winning streak.
Tony Parker scored 33 points as the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 104-97, while Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 29 points in the Denver Nuggets’ 102-91 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Markieff Morris scored a careerhigh 23 points, including a 3-pointer in overtime, as the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to beat the New Orleans 111108 for its sixth straight loss.
The Portland Trail Blazers downed the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-95 with 30 points from Wesley Matthews and a season-high 28 points and eight assists from rookie Damian Lillard.
In other games, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-91, the Orlando Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-104, the Utah Jazz edged the Sacramento Kings 104-102 and the Detroit Pistons claimed a last-gasp 91-90 win over the Toronto Raptors. —