NBA: Rockets down Lakers in double OT
Published Jan 1, 2018 09:05 am

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, front, is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Tyler Ennis (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)James Harden scored 40 points before leaving with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter, and Chris Paul scored 15 of his 28 points in overtime as the Houston Rockets snapped a five-game skid with a 148-142 double-overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
Los Angeles led by as many as 17, but couldn't hold on as the team's season-long losing streak stretched to six games.
The Rockets had hoped to limit Paul's playing time in his second game back after missing three games with a groin injury. But with Harden out, he ended up playing 42 minutes.
MAVERICKS 116, THUNDER 113
OKLAHOMA CITY - — Harrison Barnes scored 24 points, Dennis Smith Jr. got 11 of his 19 points in the final 1:39 and Dallas beat Oklahoma City to close out 2017 with its season-best fourth straight win.
Dirk Nowitzki added 13 points for Dallas, which had lost four straight in Oklahoma City and seven of nine overall against the Thunder.
CELTICS 108, NETS 105

Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving (11) shoots in front of Brooklyn Nets' DeMarre Carroll (9). (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)BOSTON - Kyrie Irving scored 28 points, Al Horford had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Boston held off Brooklyn.
Marcus Morris added 15 points, Terry Rozier scored 14 and Jaylen Brown finished with 13 points as Boston closed 2017 by winning three straight and four of five.
WIZARDS 114, BULLS 110
WASHINGTON - Bradley Beal scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Washington Wizards to a 114-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
Beal scored 15 straight points for Washington in the fourth as the Wizards rallied from an eight-point deficit early in the period. He also had nine rebounds and tied a career high with nine assists.
76ERS 123, SUNS 110
PHOENIX - Dario Saric tied a season high with 27 points, and Philadelphia beat Phoenix after blowing an 18-point lead in one quarter.
Joel Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds, and Ben Simmons had 21 points to help Philadelphia win for third time in four games.
TIMBERWOLVES 107, PACERS 90
INDIANAPOLIS - Jimmy Butler had 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Minnesota never trailed against Indiana.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, and Taj Gibson added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves (23-14), who have won nine of the last 12 games.
CLIPPERS 106, HORNETS 98
LOS ANGELES - Lou Williams scored 40 points, Blake Griffin added 25 and Los Angeles held off Charlotte.
In an offensive struggle for both teams, the Clippers outshot the Hornets 47 percent to 39 percent to win for the fifth time in six games.
Dwight Howard had 10 rebounds for Charlotte, but was 1 for 9 from the field and had only four points. (
The Associated Press)