LDN - Sports

NBA roundup: Rockets set league 3-point record

[December 17, 2016] The Sports Xchange

HOUSTON -- James Harden posted his second consecutive triple-double while Eric Gordon scored a season-high 29 points as the Houston Rockets turned another record-setting performance into a 122-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Toyota Center.

The Rockets (20-7) stretched their winning streak to nine games by setting league records for 3-pointers made (24) and attempted (61). Houston finished one trey shy of matching the old record of 23, which they shared with the Golden State Warriors, on Wednesday night in their 34-point win over the Sacramento Kings. Houston held the mark for 3-pointers attempted (50), which they set in Sacramento on Nov. 25.

Harden finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to set a new franchise mark with his 15th triple-double. Gordon shot 10 for 17 in 27 minutes off the bench while forward Trevor Ariza finished with 20 points on 5-for-14 3-point shooting.

Celtics 96, Hornets 88

BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas returned to the lineup with a bang and Boston ended its three-game losing streak with a fourth-quarter explosion.

Thomas, who missed four games with a groin strain, scored 26 points and Al Horford added 18 to lead the Celtics to a victory over Kemba Walker-less Charlotte.

Walker, Charlotte's leading scorer, missed the game because of a personal issue and will rejoin the team Saturday night in Atlanta. His team clearly missed him, shooting just 32.7 percent from the floor in the Hornets' fourth straight loss.

Magic 118, Nets 111

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Evan Fournier scored 21 points, including 11 points in the final 2:20, to spark Orlando to a victory over Brooklyn at Amway Arena.

The Magic snapped a six-game home losing streak. The Nets lost their eight consecutive game on the road.

Magic reserve center Nikola Vucevic, returning from a three-game absence, had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a reserve role. Serge Ibaka contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Wizards 122, Pistons 108

WASHINGTON -- John Wall had 29 points and 10 assists, and Bradley Beal scored 25 points as Washington dominated Detroit in a win.

Otto Porter scored 15 points for the Wizards, who outscored the Pistons 68-50 during the second and third quarters for a 95-77 lead.

The combination of shooting 57.9 percent from the field, sinking 12 of 25 3-pointers and committing only five turnovers more than did in the Pistons.

Bucks 95, Bulls 69

CHICAGO -- Just like the night before, Milwaukee had little trouble defeating Chicago at the United Center.

The Bucks picked up where they left off Thursday in Milwaukee, handing the Bulls a loss for Chicago's biggest margin of defeat this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds for Milwaukee, which got double-figure scoring from six players.

Hawks 125, Raptors 121

TORONTO -- Dwight Howard scored 27 points and added 15 rebounds and Atlanta held on to defeat Toronto.

The Hawks lost 128-84 in their previous visit to the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 3.

The loss ended the Raptors' four-game winning streak. They have won 10 of their past 12 games.

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Lakers 100, 76ers 89

PHILADELPHIA -- Julius Randle had 25 points and nine rebounds, Lou Williams added 18 points and Los Angeles snapped an eight-game losing streak with a victory over Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.

D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young also had 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who won for the first time since Nov. 30 at Chicago. Jordan Clarkson scored 10 points and Larry Nance Jr. swept 11 rebounds.

Russell appeared in his fourth game after missing 11 straight games while receiving platelet-rich plasma therapy on his right knee.

Clippers 102, Heat 98

MIAMI -- Blake Griffin scored 20 points and DeAndre Jordan added 19 rebounds and three blocks to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Miami at AmericanAirlines Arena.

With the Clippers leading 100-98 and nine seconds left, Chris Paul missed a second free throw, giving Miami an opening. But Jordan grabbed the rebound and hit a put-back to end the game.

Jordan, who had his ninth double-double of the season, added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. JJ Redick and Chris Paul had 17 points each as the Clippers won their fourth game in a row.

Miami had its two-game win streak snapped.

Kings 96, Grizzlies 92

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- There were some unfamiliar and uncomfortable moments for Memphis guard Mike Conley and former Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger, but it was Joerger who had the happy return with Sacramento to the FedExForum after the Kings held on for a win before a crowd of 15,987.

The Kings, losers of six of their last eight going into the game, built as much as a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter with balanced scoring against a Memphis team that struggled offensively in Conley's first game back since suffering fractures in his lower back on Nov. 28.

Memphis, as it had through much of a 7-2 run in Conley's absence, turned up the defensive pressure and made a run in the fourth quarter, closing to 95-92 on the second of back-to-back 3-pointers by Troy Daniels with 55 seconds to play.

Jazz 103, Mavericks 100

SALT LAKE CITY -- Rodney Hood scored 15 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.8 of a second left to help Utah claim a victory over Dallas.

Hood's game-winning basket came after the Mavericks tied it at 100 on a fadeaway jumper from Harrison Barnes with 45.4 seconds remaining to cap a 14-3 run. Dallas had a chance to take the lead, but Deron Williams missed a go-ahead 3-pointer seconds before Hood pushed the ball up the court and scored.

Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double for Utah. Gordon Hayward and Trey Lyles added 13 points apiece for the Jazz, which won for the 10th time in the last 12 games. The Jazz made 37 of 65 shots from the floor (56.9 percent).

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