Ex-Laker Williams helps Rockets romp

HOUSTON 129 NEW ORLEANS 99

The New Orleans Pelicans’ tandem of newly acquired All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and All-Star game most valuable player Anthony Davis was no match for the surging Houston Rockets on Thursday night at New Orleans.

Reserve Lou Williams hit seven three-pointers and scored 27 points in his Rockets debut after a trade from the Lakers, and Houston crushed New Orleans, 129-99.

Davis had 29 points, and Cousins finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds after being acquired from Sacramento during the break. But New Orleans turned the ball over 20 times and couldn’t keep pace with the firepower of the Rockets, who hit 20 three-pointers.

James Harden had 13 points and 14 assists for Houston. New Orleans’ Omri Casspi, acquired along with Cousins, suffered a broken right thumb.

at Detroit 114, Charlotte 108 (OT): Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 33 points, including three threepointers late in regulation, and the Pistons prevailed in overtime after trailing by 18 in the third period. Caldwell-Pope scored Detroit’s last 11 points of regulation; Kemba Walker scored the Hornets’ final nine points of the fourth and finished with 34. Charlotte missed 14 of its first 15 shots in the fourth.

at Cleveland 119, New York 104: LeBron James recorded his 48th career triple-double — 18 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists — for the Cavaliers. The Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, who was the subject of trade rumors, scored 20 points, and Courtney Lee had 25. New York trailed 87-79 entering the fourth, but the Cavaliers asserted control. Former Knick Charles Oakley, arrested after an incident at Madison Square Garden last month, sat next to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert near Cleveland’s bench.

Portland 112, at Orlando 103: The Trail Blazers, who trailed for much of the game, rallied in the fourth quarter, when Damian Lillard scored 17 of his 33 points. Terrence Ross, debuting with the Magic after a trade, had just 13 points on four-for-17 shooting. Portland was behind by 11 points early in the fourth, then went on a 16-4 run.

at Sacramento 116, Denver 100: Willie Cauley-Stein had 29 points and 10 rebounds to help carry the Kings. The Nuggets’ Gary Harris made five three-pointers and had 23 points in a losing cause.

at Golden State 123, Clippers 113