HOUSTON -- James Harden scored a career-high 50 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 118-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Harden eclipsed his previous career-best of 46, set in 2013, on a free throw with about a minute remaining. On Houston's next possession, Trevor Ariza found him in the corner and he swished a 3 under heavy pressure, to make it 50.
Six straight points by the Nuggets cut the lead to 8 with about five minutes left when the Rockets made the next five points, capped by a step back jump shot from Harden, to make it 104-91. Harden scored seven points after that to secure the victory.
It was the 29th game Harden had at least 30 points (see full recap).
Suns survive Davis-less Pelicans
PHOENIX -- Brandan Wright scored 16 points and matched his career high with seven blocked shots, helping the Phoenix Suns to a sluggish, cold-shooting 74-72 victory over a New Orleans Pelicans team playing without star Anthony Davis on Thursday night.
Davis rolled his left ankle in the team's shootaround earlier in the day and his availability for the game at Golden State Friday was uncertain.
The loss dropped New Orleans a game behind Oklahoma City for the eighth playoff spot in the West. Phoenix is 2 behind Oklahoma City and 1 behind the Pelicans.
NBA
Eric Gordon scored 14 for the Pelicans. Tyreke Evans' 3-pointer cut the lead 73-72 with 46.9 seconds to go, but he missed what would have been a game-tying 11-footer with 2.6 seconds to play (see full recap).
Wolves edge Knicks in overtime
NEW YORK -- Zach LaVine made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 10.7 seconds left and scored six of his 20 points in overtime as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the New York Knicks 95-92 on Thursday night in a matchup of the NBA's biggest losers.
Minnesota (15-53) ended a six-game losing streak and snapped a tie with the Knicks (14-54) for the NBA's worst record. New York can still win for losing, and now has pole position in the race for the No. 1 draft pick.
Kevin Martin scored 22 points and Andrew Wiggins had 20 for Minnesota despite shooting 4 for 17 from the field. Gorgui Dieng finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and his blocked shot triggered the fast break that set up LaVine's free throws.
Langston Galloway scored 21 points and Alexey Shved had 20 for the Knicks, who couldn't make it two wins in a row in OT after surprising San Antonio on Tuesday (see full recap).