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 Rockets 115, Kings 111
James Harden scored a career-high 51 points and carried the Houston
Rockets to a wild victory over the stubborn Sacramento Kings at
Toyota Center.
After scoring 17 points in the third quarter, including 11 in
succession during one stretch, Harden was called upon to save the
Rockets (51-24) again after the Kings (26-48) cut a 14-point deficit
to 104-102 midway through the fourth.
Harden drained a three-pointer with 5:25 left to play, added a
driving layup less than a minute later, and then converted a
three-point play with 4:04 remaining to rebuild the lead to 112-102.
Harden added eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in his
second career 50-point game. Rockets forward Terrence Jones chipped
in 16 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven blocks while
forward Trevor Ariza scored 22 points while connecting on 6 of 14
three-pointers.
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Hornets 102, Pistons 78
Forward Marvin Williams scored 18 points and guard Kemba Walker
added 17, as Charlotte cruised to a much-needed win over Detroit.
The Hornets were in control throughout, leading by as many as 20 in
the first half before extending in the second half despite a lot of
sloppy play.
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Mavericks 135, Thunder 131
Guard Monta Ellis scored 26 points to lead Dallas past Oklahoma City
at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Mavs (46-29) pushed their lead over the Thunder (42-33) to four
games for seventh place in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas forward Chandler Parsons scored 22 points on 10-of-15
shooting. Forward Dirk Nowitzki and center Amar'e Stoudemire each
posted 18 points.
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Spurs 103, Magic 91
San Antonio continued its late-season surge toward the playoffs by
crushing outmatched Orlando for a fifth consecutive victory.
The Spurs, who won in Miami on Tuesday, have won 15 of their last 18
games. They did it Wednesday with reserves carrying much of the
load, and the starters resting the entire fourth quarter.
- - -
Bucks 95, Bulls 91
Michael Carter-Williams scored 21 points and Ersan Ilyasova added 16
as the Bucks rallied late and held on for a close victory over the
Bulls in a possible Eastern Conference playoff preview.
Milwaukee trailed by five early in the fourth quarter but grinded
its way back and tied that game at 76 on a layup by shooting guard
O.J. Mayo with 10:08 to play.
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Raptors 113, Timberwolves 99
Toronto shot 55.3 percent from the floor and led almost all game in
a win against Minnesota at Target Center.
Toronto, averaging the fourth-most points in the NBA this season
entering the game, made easy work of Minnesota, which is allowing
the most points in the league.
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Celtics 100, Pacers 87
Kelly Olynyk, looking more like Rocky Balboa than a basketball
player with his left eye virtually swollen shut, came off the bench
to lead Boston Celtics to victory over Indiana Pacers.
The Boston forward, whose left eyelid was cut and his eye swollen
from an elbow delivered by teammate Shavlik Randolph in an afternoon
one-on-one workout, scored 19 points as the Celtics won their second
straight to keep pace in their surprise battle for a playoff spot in
the Eastern Conference.
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Nets 100, Knicks 98
A follow-up by center Brook Lopez with two seconds to play gave
Brooklyn a win over New York at Madison Square Garden.
Lopez, who scored 18 points for Brooklyn (34-40), was able to get
position to put back his own missed tip after a jumper from guard
Deron Williams fell short.
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Wizards 106, 76ers 93
Center Marcin Gortat scored 23 points, and guard John Wall had 13
points and 15 assists as Washington routed Philadelphia.
Guard Bradley Beal had 20 points for the Wizards, who never trailed,
led 65-42 at halftime and were in front by as many as 34 in the
second half. Gortat grabbed 14 rebounds and finished 10-for-11 from
the field.
- - -
Jazz 98, Nuggets 84
Center Rudy Gobert scored a career-high 20 points and collected 12
rebounds and guard Dante Exum dished out a career-high 12 assists to
lead Utah Jazz past Denver Nuggets.
Forward Derrick Favors scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and
three blocked shots to help the Jazz (34-41) win their third
straight game.
(Editing By Cameron French)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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