Harden, Gordon catch fire as Rockets down Suns

Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon celebrates his basket against the Phoenix Suns with Rockets guard James Harden. AP

Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon celebrates his basket against the Phoenix Suns with Rockets guard James Harden. AP

PHOENIX — James Harden had 27 points and 14 assists, propelling the Houston Rockets to a 125-111 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) for their 11th victory in 12 games.

Eric Gordon added 24 points off the Rockets’ bench, shooting 7 of 13 on 3-pointers. Patrick Beverley finished with 18 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.

Houston made 18-of-38 attempts from 3-point range.

Harden’s biggest shot came with 4:19 left, a 3-pointer for a 120-100 Rockets lead. He bent down and moved his arms in a swimming motion in celebration as he ran back to the bench.

Devin Booker’s 28 points led the Suns, who have lost four in a row. T.J. Warren added 19 and Brandon Knight 17.

Gordon hit back-to-back 3s midway through the fourth quarter, the second one at the 6:39 mark for a 110-95 lead.

The Rockets led by as many as 13 in the third, only to have the Suns cut it to 86-84 on a tip-in by P.J. Tucker with 1:19 left. Harden drew a questionable foul call against Tucker on a 3-point try with 4.3 seconds left and made all three free throws to give Houston a 91-84 lead entering the fourth.

The Rockets led 30-26 after the first quarter, when the Suns struggled to get back in transition. Houston scored 12 fast-break points in the period.

Harden took only two shots in the quarter but excelled as a passer, handing out seven assists.

The Suns managed one field in the first 4-plus minutes of the second and fell behind by 11. Gordon missed his first three 3-point tries of the game but knocked down his next three to keep the Rockets in front.

Phoenix rallied, however, tying it at 47 on Tucker’s corner 3 with 3:33 to play in the first half and going ahead by two seconds later with a pair of free throws by Booker.

Gordon hit four 3s in the second quarter, Harden drove for a layup with 0.3 seconds left and Houston took a 61-55 lead into halftime.

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