INDIANAPOLIS — NBA scoring leader James Harden struck for 44 points Monday to power the Houston Rockets over Indiana 110-100, delivering the Pacers their sixth consecutive defeat. Harden, who scored a career-high 50 points against Denver just four days earlier, connected on 10-of-21 shots from the floor, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range, and hit 21-of-22 attempts from the free throw line. The Rockets improved to 47-23 with their fourth victory in five games, bouncing back from a loss Saturday at Phoenix to keep the third best record in the Western Conference and fourth-best in the league overall. Houston, which hit 13-of-24 from beyond the 3-point arc, kept pace with Southwest division leader Memphis, remaining two games off the pace of the Grizzles, who won 103-82 at New York Monday. Rockets reserve Josh Smith added 18 points, Donatas Motiejunas scored 17 and Trevor Ariza grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who remain without injured center Dwight Howard but confident they can make a deep run in the playoffs. “I feel like we could do something special this year when we get everybody healthy,” Smith said. “We're trying to build something heading into the playoffs. We feel like we have the talent to do it. We're ready to emotionally sacrifice for each other to do it and to get to that level.” 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. 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. 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. 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. Warriors 107, Wizards 76: Stephen Curry had 24 points as the Golden State Warriors used a smothering defensive effort in the third quarter to pound the Washington Wizards 107-76 Monday. The Warriors held the Wizards without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes after halftime, with Washington missing its first 15 shots. Golden State outscored the Wizards 29-8 in the quarter to take a 24-point lead. Curry also had six assists and five rebounds as the NBA-leading Warriors (57-13) moved closer to securing the league's top playoff seed. Golden State has a huge lead over Memphis (50-21) in the Western Conference and is pulling away from East-leading Atlanta (53-17) as well. — Agencies
