Harden hot streak continues to silence Thunder

HOUSTON - James Harden is on a roll and it's helping the Houston Rockets get on track after their terrible start to the season.

Harden scored 41 points and the Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-109 on Tuesday for their seventh win in the last eight games.

Harden has scored 30 points or more in a career-high seven games in a row, marking the first time a player has done that since Russell Westbrook had eight consecutive 30-point games in November 2016. He has scored at least 35 in his last five, which is the longest such streak since Carmelo Anthony did it in six games in April 2013.

The Rockets won just one of their first six games this season and were 11-14 after a three-game skid in early December. Since then, powered by Harden's dominance, Houston has lost just once to improve to 18-15 and move a season-high three games above .500.

"We've had that confidence all year," Harden said. "Our record isn't where we want it to be, but it's getting there. And we've got to continue to work hard every day, continue to get better and grow. We're preparing for a postseason. We're not going to be at our tip-top right now."

A 3-pointer by Paul George with less than two minutes left got Oklahoma City within four points of the Rockets before Harden missed a 3. Westbrook missed a shot for the Thunder, but when George was fouled by Harden he made both free throws to get the Thunder within two with 43.6 seconds left.

Harden then drove past George and into the lane for a layup to make it 112-108 with 20.4 seconds left.

Westbrook made one of two free throws to cut it to three with 15 seconds left, and Austin Rivers made a free throw with 7.4 seconds left to secure the win.

George had 28 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder, and Westbrook added 21 points with nine rebounds and nine assists.

"We had some bad bounces which got them a couple of extra possessions which got them some open 3s," George said.

Harden became the first player to score 40 or more points on Christmas Day since Kevin Durant had 44 for the Thunder in 2010. Harden's latest big game came as the Rockets played without Chris Paul, who missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring. The nine-time All-Star is out for at least the next two weeks with the injury sustained on Thursday night.

"We've got a lot of guys playing at a high level right now," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "So many guys contributed."

Clint Capela had 16 points and tied a season high with 23 rebounds.

"I just told my teammates I had to make a statement that we are going to win the rebound battle," Capela said.

The Rockets were up by six with about four minutes left when Rivers, whom they signed on Monday, hit a 3-pointer to make it 107-98.

Grant scored five straight points for the Thunder to get Oklahoma City to within 107-103, but Rivers made another 3 to push the lead to seven with two minutes left.

"Everybody here has welcomed me so it has been a very easy transition," Rivers said. "So my whole focus has just been to play hard and just try to help them in any way I can."

Associated Press