NBA game roundup: Rockets add to Cavs’ woes

CLEVELAND — Houston Rockets guard James Harden had 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds Wednesday night to offset a season-best performance from Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving in Houston’s 105-93 win over Cleveland.

Irving returned from missing one game with a sore back to score a season-high 38 for the Cavs, who lost seven of their last nine and announced a trade during the game.

Forward Dwight Howard had 17 points and a season-high 19 rebounds for the Rockets, while Josh Smith had 16 points off the bench.

Forward Kevin Love had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Cavs.

Wizards 101, Knicks 91

WASHINGTON — New York set a season franchise record with their 13th straight loss as forward Nene scored 20 points in Washington’s victory.

Guard John Wall had 18 points, eight assists and three steals for the Wizards, who never trailed. Forward Rasual Butler scored 14 points.

Guard Jose Calderon scored 13 of his 17 points during the second half and forward Jason Smith had 13 points for the Knicks.

Bucks 97, 76ers 77

PHILADELPHIA — Guards Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight scored 18 points apiece as Milwaukee routed Philadelphia for their fifth straight road victory.

Backup guards O.J. Mayo and Jerryd Bayless added 15 and 12 points, respectively, and center Zaza Pachulia contributed 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks.

Center/forward Nerlens Noel had 13 points to lead Philadelphia.

Hornets 98, Pelicans 94

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Guard Kemba Walker scored 31 points and converted a three-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining as Charlotte rallied for a victory over New Orleans.

Walker barely overshadowed a 32-point, 12-rebound performance from New Orleans forward Anthony Davis.

The Hornets also got 16 points from guard Gerald Henderson, 13 points and 12 rebounds from forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and 10 points from guard Brian Roberts.

Celtics 89, Nets 81

NEW YORK — Point guard Avery Bradley scored nine of his 21 points in the third quarter when Boston seized control in a victory over Brooklyn.

Center Tyler Zeller added 18 points for the Celtics.

Forward Joe Johnson scored 17 points, center Mason Plumlee added 16 points and guard Jarrett Jack had 15 for the Nets.

Hawks 96, Grizzlies 86

ATLANTA — Guards Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver fueled a last-minute flurry and led Atlanta to a victory over Memphis in a battle of first-place teams at Philips Arena.

Teague finished with a game-high 25 points, and Korver added 14 points with four 3-pointers.

The Grizzlies got 17 points from point guard Mike Conley and 16 from center Marc Gasol.

Jazz 97, Bulls 77

CHICAGO — Injury-riddled Utah was a big underdog, but it outhustled and outplayed Chicago en route to an easy win at the United Center.

Forward Derrick Favors (20 points and 11 rebounds) and center Rudy Gobert (11 points and 14 rebounds) finished with double-doubles, forward Gordon Hayward scored 18 points, and guard Trey Burke added 17 points in his return after missing a game due to a strep throat infection.

Guard Jimmy Butler led four Bulls in double-figure scoring with 16 points and 11 rebound. Star guard Derrick Rose was held to seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, as Chicago was held to season lows in points and shooting percentage (33.3 percent).

Pistons 108, Mavericks 95

DALLAS — Detroit extended its season-long winning streak to seven games with a wire-to- of Dallas at American Airlines Center.

The Pistons’ duo of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe dominated. Monroe put forth a monstrous effort of 27 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and a blocked shot. His partner, Drummond, had just six points, but grabbed 19 rebounds, seven on the offensive boards. D.J. Augustin took advantage from the perimeter, scoring 26

Forward Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 19 points on 8-for-19 shooting. Guard Monta Ellis had 16 points on 6-for-17 shooting, and forward Chandler Parsons had 15 points.

Nuggets 93, Magic 90

DENVER — Guard Ty Lawson scored 23 points, guard Arron Afflalo had 17 points against his former team and Denver held on to beat Orlando.

Forward J.J. Hickson had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which has won three in a row.

Center Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 11 rebounds and guard Victor Oladipo had 17 for the Magic, who have lost four straight.

Suns 113, Timberwolves 111

MINNEAPOLIS — Phoenix guard Gerald Green scored 15 points in the fourth quarter in a win against Minnesota at Target Center.

Five Suns finished in double figures, led by Goran Dragic’s 25 points. Guard Isaiah Thomas and Eric Bledsoe each finished with 17.

Wiggins led the Wolves with 25 points, tying a franchise rookie record by scoring 20 points or more in his fifth straight game. Guard Mo Williams had 23 points and 11 assists starting his second consecutive game at the point.

Kings 104, Thunder 83

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Forward Rudy Gay scored 28 points, and guard Darren Collison added 24 as Sacramento never trailed during a victory over Oklahoma City at Sleep Train Arena.

Center DeMarcus Cousins added 23 points and 15 rebounds for Sacramento. Guard Ben McLemore scored 11, and forward Carl Landry added 10 points to help the Kings beat the Thunder for the first time in their past 13 meetings.

Forward Kevin Durant finished with 24 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City, but the Thunder were drubbed for the second consecutive contest. Oklahoma City, which reached the .500 mark for the first time after a 3-12 start with a win over Washington last Friday, has dropped two straight since then by a combined 47 points.

Clippers 114, Lakers 89

LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out eight assists, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-89 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

Point guard Chris Paul added 24 points and 11 assists for the Clippers. Forward Matt Barnes had 19 points, and center DeAndre Jordan finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Clippers beat the Lakers for the fifth consecutive time and captured their fifth win in six outings.

Guard Jordan Clarkson scored 14 points, and center Jordan Hill and guard Wayne Ellington added 13 points apiece for the Lakers, who lost for the third time in four games and the sixth time in eight. Lakers forward Kobe Bryant managed just four points.

Warriors 117, Pacers 102

OAKLAND, Calif. — Klay Thompson scored 12 of his 40 points in the first 4:31 of the fourth quarter, helping Golden State break open a close game en route to a victory over Indiana.

Thompson’s 40 points fell just one shy of his career-best of 41. He hit 14 of 25 from the field, including six of 11 from 3-point range. Backcourt mate Stephen Curry chipped in with 21 points and 15 assists and center Marreese Speights added 18 points to the win.

Small forward Solomon Hill had 21 points and power forward David West finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Pacers, who had six players score