A high for Rockets
Harden helps Houston extend unbeaten run in Denver
NEW YORK: James Harden scored a game-high 41 points and helped close out the Houston Rockets’ 12th consecutive victory, a 119-114 win over the hosts Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Centre.
After the Nuggets cut what was a 100-83 deficit earlier in the fourth quarter to four points, Harden sank a pair of free throws before drilling a step-back jumper over Jamal Murray.
Harden shot 11 of 20 from the field, including six of 10 on threepoint attempts, while adding eight rebounds and seven assists.
Chris Paul chipped in 23 points and six assists while Trevor Ariza scored 14 for the Rockets.
Will Barton paced Denver with 25 points while Nikola Jokic had his streak of games with a triple-double snapped at three, posting 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
Murray scored 19 for the Nuggets, who had their five-game home winning streak snapped.
In the other match, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and Danny Green added 22 as San Antonio did everything right in the final 12 minutes while rolling to a win at Cleveland.
San Antonio opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that produced an 87-74 advantage with 9:22 to play.
Cleveland never got within eight points the rest of the way in an anticlimactic finish to what was a close game for three quarters.
The Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak and finished their road trip 2-4.
LeBron James led all scorers with 33 points and collected 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost two of their past three games after winning four straight.
Jrue Holiday scored 15 points in the third quarter and finished with 36 as visiting New Orleans held off Milwaukee in overtime.
The Pelicans won their fifth consecutive game, their longest winning streak in three years.
They won their sixth straight overtime game and second in three days.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 12 assists for the Pelicans.
Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe scored 20 each.
Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Otto Porter Jr added 23 as Washington defeated visiting Philadelphia.
The result ended a seven-game Philadelphia winning streak, which was the longest active run in the Eastern Conference.
Kelly Oubre Jr (19 points) and Marcin Gortat (13 points and 10 rebounds) both pitched in for he Wizards.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Ben Simmons had 16 points. — AFP