JAMES Harden scored a season-high 35 points and handed out nine assists to help the Los Angeles Clippers extend their winning streak to eight games with a 151-127 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila) in Indianapolis.
Harden shot 12 of 16 from the floor, including 8 of 11 from 3-point distance. Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points, Paul George had 27 points, Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks for the Clippers.
Leonard, who came in averaging 33.8 points and shooting 64.8 percent from the floor over the previous five games, hit 12 of 18 field-goal attempts against Indiana. Los Angeles shot 57.1 percent from the floor and made half of its 38 3-point attempts.
Bennedict Mathurin scored a career-high 34 points off the bench to lead the Pacers, who have lost four straight.
In other games, it was the Hawks 130, Pistons 124; Knicks 114, Lakers 109; Wolves 112, Heat 108; Kings 143, Wizards 131; Raptors 114, Hornets 99; Cavs 135, Rockets 130 (OT); Nuggets 130, Mavs 104; Bulls 108, Sixers 104; Jazz 125, Nets 108; and Thunder 116, Grizzlies 97.
Hawks 130, Pistons 124
Trae Young scored 31 points and dished out 15 assists as Atlanta handed visiting Detroit its 24th straight loss.
It was the fourth consecutive 30-point game for Young and his 16th double-double of the season. His performance helped offset a career-high 43-point effort from Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.
The loss leaves Detroit two games shy of the NBA record for longest losing streak within the same season. That record is jointly held by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia Sixers. The Sixers had a 28-game losing streak that carried over from the 2014-15 season into the 2015-16 season. The Cavs also lost 24 straight between the 1981-82 and 1982-83 campaigns.
Knicks 114, Lakers 109
Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and Julius Randle added 27 points and 14 rebounds as New York turned improved defense into a victory at Los Angeles.
Immanuel Quickley put up 20 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 17 rebounds as the Knicks improved to 2-2 on a five-game road swing while rebounding from a 144-122 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
LeBron James amassed 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists while Anthony Davis had 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers. Los Angeles fell to 1-3 since winning the NBA in-season tournament on Dec. 9 with a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
