Harden scores franchise-record 61 as Rockets nip Knicks
HOUSTON superstar James Harden continued his historic streak Wednesday night by scoring a career-high and franchise-record 61 points, but it was Eric Gordon who drained the biggest shot, a 3-pointer with nine seconds left that gave the Rockets the lead for good in a wild 114110 win over the host New York Knicks.
Harden has scored at least 30 points in 21 consecutive games, the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history, behind only three authored by Wilt Chamberlain. "Wilt the Stilt" scored 30 points in 25 straight games during the 1960-61 season, in 31 straight games spanning the 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons and in 65 straight games during the 1961-62 season.
The 61 points are the most by a player in an NBA game this season -- Kemba Walker scored 60 points for the Charlotte Hornets on November 17 -- and tied for the most ever scored by a Knicks opponent at Madison Square Garden. Kobe Bryant scored 61 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2, 2009.
There was little suspense regarding Harden's streak Wednesday, when he scored 19 points in the first quarter, finished the first half with 36 points and ended the third quarter with 49 points. He missed six consecutive shots before reaching 50 points with a jumper with 4:22 left.
The Rockets appeared headed for a relatively easy victory when Harden drained three free throws -- the last of which was a technical free throw following the ejection of Knicks head coach David Fizdale -- to give Houston a 107-101 lead with 1:08 left.
Pacers edge Raptors after Oladipo’s injury exit
Thaddeus Young scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, and he grabbed 15 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers held off a late rally to defeat the Toronto Raptors, 110-106, Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
The Pacers lost guard Victor Oladipo with 4:05 left in the first half. He left on a stretcher with what the team termed a serious right knee injury, and he is headed for an MRI exam Thursday. Oladipo, Indiana’s leading scorer on the season, had four points, three rebounds and one assist.
Darren Collison added 17 points, and Bojan Bogdanovic had 16 points for the Pacers, who won their third game in a row. Myles Turner contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds, Domantas Sabonis had 12 points, and Tyreke Evans had 11.
Serge Ibaka had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who won the season series 2-1. Kyle Lowry added 20 points and seven assists, Pascal Siakam had 16 points and nine rebounds, Fred VanVleet scored 14 points, Norman Powell had 12 and Danny Green 10.