Rockets race past Knicks; Lakers, Clippers stumble on the road

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HOUSTON — James Harden scored 33 points, and Chandler Parsons had a career-high 31 to help the Houston Rockets coast to a 131-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

HOUSTON — James Harden scored 33 points, and Chandler Parsons had a career-high 31 to help the Houston Rockets coast to a 131-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Jeremy Lin added 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Houston in his first game against his former team.

The Rockets entered the third quarter up by 12 and scored 10 straight points later in the quarter to extend their lead to 21.

Carmelo Anthony had a season-high 37 for New York, which dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

GRIZZLIES 106,

LAKERS 98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rudy Gay scored 21 points, Mike Conley added 19, and Memphis beat Los Angeles to improve to an NBA-best 9-2.

Zach Randolph had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Marc Gasol added 14 points and eight assists.

The Lakers, playing their third road game in four nights, have lost all four road games this season and their second straight with new coach Mike D’Antoni on the bench. Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison each had 16.

CELTICS 108,

THUNDER 100

BOSTON — Paul Pierce scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half, and Boston beat Oklahoma City to snap a two-game losing streak.

Kevin Garnett had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Rajon Rondo finished with 16 assists and eight rebounds for the Celtics. They led by 14 points in the second half and held on after the Thunder cut it to three with under 2 minutes remaining.

Kevin Durant scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, which lost for just the second time in its last 10 games. Russell Westbrook had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

NETS 86,

CLIPPERS 76

NEW YORK — Brook Lopez had 26 points, including consecutive baskets during the decisive stretch, and Brooklyn shut down Los Angeles in the fourth quarter.

Brooklyn outscored Los Angeles 23-13 during a final period in which Chris Paul had no points, one assist and six fouls. Deron Williams didn’t have a great game either, but he improved to 14-4 in the longtime rivalry between two of the NBA’s top point guards.

Joe Johnson added 19 points for the Nets. They limited the Clippers to 29 points in the second half and got back on track after losing the final two games of a six-game trip.

Paul and Blake Griffin each had 14 points for the Clippers. They have dropped two in a row following a six-game winning streak.

SPURS 104,

PACERS 97

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Parker scored 33 points, and San Antonio overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Indiana to improve to 10-3.

Tim Duncan had 22 points for San Antonio, which closed the game with a 17-2 run. Manu Ginobili scored 19 points. David West scored 22 points for the Pacers, and Paul George finished with 15.

NUGGETS 102,

WARRIORS 91

DENVER — Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 29 points — 20 in the second half — and Ty Lawson had 18 points and nine assists to help Denver win its third straight game.

Danilo Gallinari added 20 points for the Nuggets. Warriors scoring leader Stephen Curry was held to six points in his lowest-scoring game since early last season. David Lee led Golden State with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Carl Landry had 19 points.

SUNS 111,

HORNETS 108 (OT)

PHOENIX — Markieff Morris scored a career-high 23 points, including a 3-pointer in overtime, and Phoenix rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to hand New Orleans its sixth straight loss.

Goran Dragic scored 20 points, 12 in the final 6 minutes of the third quarter, for Phoenix.

New Orleans got career performances from Ryan Anderson and Greivis Vasquez. Anderson scored a career-high 34 points, hitting 8 of 13 3s. Vasquez had 25 points and 14 assists, both career bests.

TRAIL BLAZERS 103,

TIMBERWOLVES 95

PORTLAND, Ore. — Wesley Matthews scored 30 points, rookie Damian Lillard had a season-high 28 points and eight assists, and Portland beat Minnesota.

J.J. Hickson returned from a shoulder injury and had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, which has won four of its last five games. Kevin Love had 24 points and 13 rebounds in his second game back for Minnesota.

HAWKS 101,

BOBCATS 91

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Al Horford had 26 points and 13 rebounds to help Atlanta beat Charlotte for its fourth consecutive victory.

Horford was 13 of 17 from the field. Kyle Korver hit 4 of 6 3-pointers and finished with 16 points for Atlanta. Jeff Teague added 13 points and 12 assists, and Josh Smith had 10 points and eight assists.

Ramon Sessions had 22 points for Charlotte.

MAGIC 108,

CAVALIERS 104

ORLANDO, Fla. — Jameer Nelson had 22 points and six assists, and Arron Afflalo added 19 in Orlando’s comeback victory over Cleveland.

Glen Davis had 10 of his 16 points the fourth quarter. Dion Waiters scored 25 points for Cleveland, and Anderson Varejao had 19. The Cavaliers have lost seven of eight.

JAZZ 104,

KINGS 102

SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward hit the winning basket with 4.5 seconds left and finished with 23 points in Utah’s comeback victory over Sacramento.

Marvin Williams had 20 points for Utah, Al Jefferson added 17, and Derrick Favors had 16 points, 14 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Tyreke Evans led Sacramento with 19 points.

PISTONS 91,

RAPTORS 90

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Brandon Knight made a layup with 7.8 seconds left to lift Detroit past Toronto.

Greg Monroe had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, and Knight and Tayshaun Prince each had 16 points. Andrea Bargnani scored a season-best 34 points for Toronto.