Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) attempts to get past Jeff Green of Memphis Grizzlies during the NBA game. Cleveland defeated Memphis 111-89. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
DPA/Los Angeles
The Houston Rockets welcomed back big man Dwight Howard with their biggest come-from-behind victory of the season.
James Harden had 25 points with 10 assists Wednesday and the Rockets overcame an early 17-point deficit for a 95-93 road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
“We came back from a big deficit and the one thing I kept telling the fellas was, we’ve got to stop playing around with the game,” Howard said. “We’re on a big mission to win a championship, and we’ve got to wake up and play.”
After missing 26 games, Howard finished with four points, seven rebounds and a block in 17 minutes in his first action since January 23 while rehabilitating his right knee. “It felt pretty good. It seemed like as soon as I got out there it was time to sit down,” he said. “My whole point was to do whatever I can to help the team win and play as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
Trevor Ariza had 22 points while Donatas Montejunas netted 21 for Houston (48-23) which moved 1.5 games behind Southwest Division-leading Memphis. Houston trailed 36-19 in the second quarter but outscored its hosts 59-34 in the middle two periods to go ahead. The Rockets led 94-85 on a Josh Smith triple but had it sliced to three on a Tyreke Evans basket with 37.5 seconds left.
After a missed Harden jumper, Anthony Davis was fouled but the 83-per-cent free throw shooter split a pair, pulling the Pelicans to within 94-92 with seven seconds to go. Harden made 1-of-2 free throws and the Rockets decided to intentionally foul Eric Gordon instead of risk a tying 3-pointer.
Gordon made the first but purposely missed the second free throw, hoping for a tying put-back but time ran out. Evans tossed in 28 points while Davis added 24 and 14 rebounds for the Pelicans (37-34), losers of four in a row.
Cavaliers 111, Memphis Grizzlies 89
Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, Kevin Love added 22 points with 10 rebounds as the visiting Cavs (47-26) dealt the Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies (50-22) their worst home loss of the season.
San Antonio Spurs 130, Oklahoma City 91
Tony Parker had 21 points fellow-Frenchman Boris Diaw added 19, and the defending NBA Champ Spurs (44-26) stopped the visiting Thunder’s (41-31) four-game winning streak with their most lopsided win of the season.
League top gun Russell Westbrook was held to 16 points for Oklahoma City (41-31), which still holds down the final playoff spot in the West.
Miami Heat 93, Boston Celtics 86
Slovenian Goran Dragic had 22 points and the visiting Heat (33-38) - minus Dwyane Wade (swollen left knee) - stayed in the seventh playoff spot in the East after beating the Celtics (31-40), who remained eighth.
Chicago Bulls 116, Toronto Raptors 103
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Spaniard Pau Gasol had 18 and the visiting Bulls (44-29) used a 39-21 fourth quarter to beat the Raptors.
Greivis Vasquez had 22 points for Toronto (42-30), which clinched a playoff berth when Miami beat Boston and Charlotte lost to Brooklyn.
Indiana Pacers 103, Washington Wizards 101
George Hill scored 29 points, including the game-winning layup with 2.7 seconds left, and the visiting Pacers (31-40) stopped a six-game slide while sending the Wizards (40-32) to a fourth straight loss despite John Wall’s 34 points.
Atlanta Hawks 95, Orlando Magic 83
Paul Millsap had 25 points with 11 rebounds, and the East-best Hawks (54-17) used a 27-12 fourth quarter to stop a season-high three-game slide after beating the Magic (22-51).
LA Clippers 111, New York Knicks 80
Austin Rivers scored an impressive 21 points, while Chris added 11 with 16 assists, and the visiting Clippers (47-25) routed the league-worst New York Knicks (14-58).
Brooklyn Nets 91, Charlotte Hornets 88
Brook Lopez had 34 points with 10 rebounds and the go-ahead basket with 23 seconds left, as the visiting Nets (30-37) held off the Hornets (30-37).
Philadelphia 76ers 99, Denver Nuggets 85
Robert Covington hit six triples en route to a career-high-tying 25 points, and the Sixers (18-54) outscored the Nuggets (27-45) 27-9 in the final frame to snap a 16-game road slide.
LA Lakers 101, Timberwolves 99 (OT)
Rookie Jordan Clarkson scored eight of his 20 points in overtime, including two free throws with three tenths of a second left, and the visiting Lakers (19-51) slipped past West-worst T-Wolves (16-55) despite 27 from top rookie Andrew Wiggins.
Sacramento Kings 108, Phoenix Suns 99
DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points with 11 rebounds, and the visiting Kings (26-45) won their season-high fourth in a row after ending the Suns’ (38-34) four-game success.
Portland Trail Blazers 92, Utah Jazz 89
Damian Lillard scored 23 points, including the go-ahead free throws with a minute left, along with 12 assists and eight rebounds, as the visiting Blazers (45-25) broke a five-game slide after edging the Jazz (31-40) despite Derrick Favors’ 26-point, 13-rebound showing.