Harden, Westbrook shine as Rockets extend streak
LOS ANGELES: James Harden scored 36 points and Russell Westbrook bagged a triple double as the Rockets extended their red-hot winning streak to eight games with a 132-108 rout of the Trail Blazers in Houston on Monday.
Harden, fresh from a 49-point display in Saturday’s win over Minnesota, was once again in commanding form against a Portland team who were always second best at Houston’s Toyota Center.
The 2017-2018 NBA Most Valuable Player also had six rebounds and five assists as the Blazers struggled to contain the Rockets’ multi-pronged offence.
Westbrook tormented the Portland defence, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on a night when all five Houston starters finished in double figures.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni praised the contribution of Westbrook.
“Russell had an extra gear tonight, but it’s hard to single out one guy,” D’Antoni said. “They’re all playing well.”
The Rockets coach reserved special praise for Harden though, once again repeating his belief that the 30-yearold is the best offensive player he has ever seen.
“I’m lost for words,” D’Antoni said. “What he does is unbelievable. No matter what the other teams try to do, double-team or whatever, he just figures it out. It’s incredible what he’s doing.”
The win saw the Rockets improve to 11-3 at the top of the Western Conference, neck-and-neck with the pacesetting Los Angeles Lakers (11-2).
In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored a career-high 42 points and bagged a triple double to guide the Mavericks to a 117-110 win over the Spurs.
The 20-year-old Slovenian is the second youngest player in history to score a 40-point triple double after LeBron James.
“It’s not surprising to me,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “This guy can do anything he wants to on a basketball court.”
In Los Angeles, Paul George scored 17 points against his former team as the Clippers eked out a nail-biting 90-88 victory over the Thunder.
Elsewhere on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a 33-point haul as the Milwaukee Bucks outgunned the Chicago Bulls 115-101.
In Toronto, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam sparked the Raptors in a 132-96 demolition of the Charlotte Hornets.
The Celtics remain on top of the Eastern Conference table aftera 99-85 win over the Phoenix Suns.