Harden scores 44 points against Pacers

James Harden scored 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter and Josh Smith added 18 to help the Houston Rockets beat Indiana, 110-100, on Monday night in Indianapolis, handing the Pacers their sixth straight loss. The Rockets (47-23) have won four of five.

Indiana’s sinking playoff hopes took another big hit despite 23 points from C.J. Watson. George Hill had 20 points for the Pacers (30-40).

Indiana rallied in the third, using a 16-4 spurt to get as close as 6866 in the final two minutes. But the Rockets closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 76-68 lead. They rebuilt a double-digit margin early in the fourth, and then Harden sealed the win by scoring 12 points in a four-minute flurry.

Boston 110, at Brooklyn 91:

Evan Turner had 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Celtics ended a three-game losing streak that had dropped them out of playoff position. Avery Bradley scored 20 points to lead the Celtics, who entered a half-game behind Charlotte for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Memphis 103, at New York 82:

Zach Randolph scored 23 points, Marc Gasol had 21 and the Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Knicks. The Grizzlies (50-21) shot 52% from the field in their third consecutive win. Vince Carter added 14 points, Jeff Green scored 12 and Kosta Koufos had 10.

at Chicago 98, Charlotte 86:

Nikola Mirotic scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and the Bulls clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Hornets. Pau Gasol had 27 points and 12 rebounds. Charlotte fell out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota 106, at Utah 104 (OT):

Rookie guard Zach LaVine scored 27 points, including two threepointers, to force overtime, and the Timberwolves rallied past the Jazz. LaVine’s clutch shots in the fourth quarter set up a 6-1 Minnesota run to start overtime that the Jazz couldn’t overcome. Trey Burke shot four for 22 for Utah and missed a 32-footer at the buzzer that would have won the game.

at Golden State 107, Washington 76:

Stephen Curry had 24 points, and the Warriors used a smothering defense in the third quarter to pound the Wizards. Curry also had six assists and five rebounds as the NBA-leading Warriors (57-13) moved closer to securing the league’s top playoff seed.