Harden's 57 points lead Rockets past Grizzlies

James Harden scored a season-high 57 points to carry the short-handed Houston Rockets to a 112-94 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

The reigning MVP extended his streak of 30-point games to 17 by halftime, pouring in 36 points over the first two quarters to put Houston on top. It's the longest such streak since Wilt Chamberlain had 20 straight games of at least 30 points in 1964.

It's the franchise-record 14th time Harden has scored 40 this season and the eighth time in his last 11 games. It's the third time he's topped 50 points this season and the 12th time in his career. He surpassed his previous season best of 54 against Washington and fell just shy of the careerhigh and club-record 60 points he scored last January against Orlando.

After his huge first half, the Grizzlies doubleteamed Harden on most every possession in the first few minutes of the third quarter and he didn't score again until there were about five minutes left in the period.

That basket was the start of an 11-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Harden that pushed the Rockets' lead to 76-60 with about 3 ½ minutes remaining in the third.

NETS 109, CELTICS 102:D'Angelo Russell scored 18 of his 34 points in the third quarter and the Brooklyn Nets ended a 10-game losing streak to Boston with a victory, sending the Celtics to a winless three-game road trip.

With Kyrie Irving nursing a bruised right quadriceps, the Nets blew open the game with a 15-0 run in the third quarter and outscored the Celtics 44-21 in the period.

Jarrett Allen added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who have won nine of their last 10 home games. Rookie Rodions Kurucs also scored 19 points.

Jayson Tatum scored 34 points for the Celtics, who dropped games at Miami and Orlando to start their trip. Jaylen Brown added 22 points.

Tip-ins

•CELTICS: Former Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart missed Monday night's game against Brooklyn because of an illness.

•ROCKETS: Guard Chris Paul missed his 12th game in a row with a strained left hamstring.