Rockets 110, Pacers 98
James Harden scored a season-high 45 points and made seven 3-pointers as host Houston slid past Indiana.
Dwight Howard had 14 points and 17 rebounds and Corey Brewer added 13 points for the Rockets, who were 12-of-31 from 3-point range. Donatas Motiejunas added 10 points and nine rebounds.
C.J. Miles scored 23 points and fellow reserve Donald Sloan added 17 for the Pacers, who lost their fifth consecutive game. Ian Mahinmi collected a season-best 14 rebounds, Solomon Hill had 13 points and Roy Hibbert added 12.
The Rockets led by 11 points in the third quarter before Harden connected on three 3-pointers in a span of 68 seconds as part of a 10-0 surge for an 81-60 lead. Houston led 89-68 entering the final stanza and the Pacers pulled within 103-95 late in the fourth before Harden scored the next four points as the Rockets finished it off.
Sloan’s four-point play capped a 9-0 run that pulled Indiana within one point with 4:37 left in the first half. The Rockets answered with 12 straight points to open up a 13-point lead before settling for a 55-45 lead at the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Harden was 12-of-18 from the field had seven assists and four steals while topping 40 points for the fourth time this season. … The Pacers were 6-of-27 from 3-point range. … Houston racked up 13 steals with F Trevor Ariza and PG Patrick Beverley having three apiece.