HARDEN HITS TRIPLE DOUBLE AS ROCKETS BEAT BLAZERS
washington — James Harden posted his third triple double in five games to power the Houston Rockets over visiting Portland 126-109 on Thursday on a night of lopsided NBA matchups.
Harden finished with 26 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds to spark the Rockets (7-5). It was Harden’s 12th career triple double and the Rockets are 10-2 when he achieves double digits in three categories.
The Rockets made 14 of 32 three-pointers. Trevor Ariza scored 16 points, Clint Capela added 15, reserve Eric Gordon netted 16 points and Patrick Beverley hit 11 in his first start since pre-season left knee surgery.
CJ McCollum led Portland with 26 points while Maurice Harkness added 19 and Damian Lillard had 18 with five rebounds and five assists.
Harden scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists in the first quarter as the Rockets led 41-29 after 12 minutes.
Dion Waiters scored 23 points and the host Miami Heat snapped a six-game losing streak, their longest since 2008, by downing Milwaukee 96-73.
Miami improved to 3-8 while the Bucks fell to 5-6. Miami guard Goran Dragic, who missed three games with an injured left ankle, had 16 points while Heat center Hassan Whiteside had 12 points, 17 rebounds and an NBA seasonbest seven blocked shots despite early foul trouble.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, also in foul trouble, was held to 14 points and seven rebounds. — AFP