Rockets 112, Thunder 101
James Harden collected 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds to lead host Houston to its third straight win over Oklahoma City.
Trevor Ariza added 17 points and Donatas Motiejunas scored 14 for the Rockets, who have won five of their last six. Dwight Howard, Patrick Beverley and Josh Smith scored 13 apiece as Houston went 16-for-36 from 3-point range — its NBA-record 11th game this season with 15 or more triples.
Kevin Durant tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who were denied in their bid to reach .500 for the first time this season. Russell Westbrook, Reggie Jackson and Dion Waiters each added 16 points and Serge Ibaka had 13 as Oklahoma City lost its fourth straight road game.
Houston hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter and built a 40-18 lead after one period behind 15 points from Harden. Durant didn’t make his first field goal until hitting a 3-pointer at the 9:45 mark of the second quarter, but he scored 15 points in the quarter and led the charge as Oklahoma City cut the deficit to 64-53 at the break.
The Thunder pulled within 10 on two occasions before Harden and Motiejunas hit 3-pointers to bookend a 12-0 run that made it 100-78 with 8:17 remaining. A Waiters 3-pointer trimmed it to 102-91 at the 3:46 mark, but Harden made three free throws and Ariza drained a triple and Houston coasted from there.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rockets lead the league with 30 games of 10 or more 3-point field goals. … Houston’s 40 points in the first quarter are its most in any quarter this season and tied for the most Oklahoma City has allowed in an opening period over the past five seasons. …Harden has scored 30 or more points an NBA-best 17 times this season.