James Harden racks up 47 points, Rockets beat Suns
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball as he gets past Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes, left, and guard Devin Booker, second from left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — James Harden scored 47 points, Russell Westbrook added 30 and the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns, 139-125, Saturday night.
The Rockets won for the 10th time in 13 games and improved to 20-9 for the season. Phoenix pulled to 115-107 with 9:37 left but the Rockets responded with a 21-9 run — which included four 3-pointers from Harden.
Harden shot 15 of 27 from the field, including 9 of 19 from 3-point range. He leads the NBA with 38.5 points per game and blew past that number with his fourth quarter outburst, hitting his quartet of 3s in a span of about three minutes.
Westbrook added 10 assists, and Clint Capela had 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Rockets shot 59% from the field.
The Suns have lost six straight games and fell to 11-18. Kelly Oubre Jr. led Phoenix with 26 points, and Devin Booker had 19. All five starters scored in double digits for just the third time this season.
Gary Clark made a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the third quarter to push the Rockets ahead 106-95. Houston never trailed in the second half.
Harden scored 18 points in the first quarter and had 29 by halftime, shooting 10 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. The Rockets led 70-65 at the break after shooting 61% from the field.
Oubre had 15 points in the first half for the Suns.
TIP-INS
Rockets: G Eric Gordon (knee) has missed the past 19 games after having knee surgery. He had the surgery on Nov. 13 and was expected to miss about six weeks. Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said he wasn’t sure if Gordon would return during the team’s four-game trip that ends on Christmas Day against Golden State.
Suns: C Deandre Ayton missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle. Ayton played in just one game after returning from his 25-game suspension, scoring 18 points against the Clippers in 24 minutes before leaving in the second half after injuring his ankle. … PG Ricky Rubio missed the game because of an illness. Okobo started in his place.
“You can boo-hoo and whine about it, but it does no good,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said pregame. “You look around the league, Minnesota is missing players, New Orleans is missing players all year. … It’s happening to everyone. I don’t know if anyone’s dealt with what we’ve dealt with, but I like my team, I like the fight and the way they show up every day.”
UP NEXT
Rockets: Play the third game of the their four-game road trip against the Kings on Monday.
Suns: Host the Nuggets on Monday.
