Los Angeles: The league-leading Houston Rockets ended the Trail Blazers’ 13-game NBA winning streak with a hard-fought 115-111 victory in Portland.
In a game featuring the NBA’s two hottest teams, Houston’s MVP candidate James Harden scored 42 points to help the Rockets notch their 13th victory in 14 games since the All-Star break.
Neither team led by more than 10 points in a see-saw battle that saw 17 lead changes and 10 ties.
Harden’s step-back three-pointer put the Rockets up 113-104 with 1:55 to play.
The Trail Blazers narrowed the gap to two points in the final minute, but would get no closer.
“They’ve been playing well, we all know that,” Harden said.
“Nothing changes for us, no matter who we play. We go out there and just do our thing on both ends of the floor. Tonight was no different.
“Fourth quarter, we stepped up and made big shots. Defensively we got stops when we needed to.”
The Celtics dealt the Thunder a damaging 100-99 loss in Boston, where Marcus Morris drained a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to lift the hosts.
With Celtics star Kyrie Irving still sidelined by a sore left knee, Jayson Tatum led Boston with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Morris contributed 21 as the Celtics snapped Oklahoma City’s six-game winning streak.
