Manila Bulletin

Hot Harden powers Rockets past Suns

- Houston’s Josh Smith slams the ball as teammate James Harden looks on during their NBA game yesterday. The Rockets won, 127-118. (AFP)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Houston Rockets blew an early 18-point lead and were down by one after three quarters in Phoenix.

Then, as he so often does, James Harden took over.

The NBA’s leading scorer got 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter and the Rockets pulled away to beat the Suns 127-118 on Tuesday night.

“He made all the tough plays for his team, like all great players do,” the Suns’ Eric Bledsoe said.

“You know, he’s in the running for MVP and he should be up there.”

Josh Smith added 20 in the highest-scoring game of the season for the Rockets, who trailed 89-88 at the end of the third.

“That (game) had more twists and turns than an old country road,” Houston coach Kevin McHale said.

Eric Bledsoe scored 32, one shy of his career high, for the Suns, who enter the All-Star break losers of five of six. Bledsoe had 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Harden – who will have his number retired by Arizona State on Wednesday night – ended the first and second quarters with a 3-pointer, then opened the fourth with a four-point play that put the Rockets ahead for good. He scored eight in a row during a 2 1/2 minute stretch late in the fourth.

“James played really, really well,” McHale said. “He’s been playing at a high level.”

Harden has 85 points in his last two games. He scored 45 – one shy of his career high – in a loss to Portland on Sunday and has six games of at least 40 points this season.

“I mean, credit to my teammates,” he said. “They’re doing a great job of setting screens and getting me open.”

Harden came off the court with his left arm dangling in the third quarter but wasn’t out of the game long.

“I went to the basket pretty hard and all my weight went on my elbow,” he said. “But I’m all right. It went numb right away and I had some pain but I got the feeling back right away.”

Houston, winner of seven of nine, has one game before the break, Wednesday night against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

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