(The Sports Xchange) – Forward James Harden scored 44 points, including 21 of 22 from the free-throw line, as Houston handed reeling Indiana its sixth consecutive loss with a 110-100 points win.
In two victories against the Pacers this season, Harden scored 99 points. He added seven assists to go with his 44-point night.
A Harden three-pointer with 6:16 remaining gave Houston a 94-82 lead, and the Rockets (47-23) never were threatened again.
Houston made 13 of 24 shots from three-point range, the ninth time this season an Indiana opponent has made at least 12 treys.
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Bulls 98, Hornets 86
Rookie forward Nikola Mirotic scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Chicago pulled away for a win over Charlotte.
Forward Pau Gasol added 27 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago, which clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season.
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Grizzlies 103, Knicks 82
Memphis won its third straight game, turning back New York at Madison Square Garden.
The Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies (50-21) were led by forward Zach Randolph’s 23 points. Center Marc Gasol added 21 points and eight rebounds.
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Celtics 110, Nets 91
Reserve forward Kelly Olynyk scored seven of his 18 points early in the fourth quarter, as Boston snapped a four-game losing streak with Brooklyn.
Olynyk was one of four Celtics who finished with at least 18 points, but he made some of the biggest plays early in the final quarter, allowing Boston to maintain control. He scored seven straight points on a driving dunk, a three-pointer and a tip-in that made it 96-80 with 8:19 remaining.
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Timberwolves 106,
Jazz 104 (OT)
Guard Zach LaVine scored 27 points and forward Andrew Wiggins added 22 points to lead Minnesota to an overtime victory over Utah.
Forward Chase Budinger scored 15 points off the bench. All but one Minnesota player scored in double figures. The Timberwolves (16-54) only played seven players because of injuries.
