NBA: Hawks fly higher than Rockets, 121-115
Houston Rockets’ James Harden, left, and Atlanta Hawks’ Kent Bazemore scramble for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, in Houston. The Hawks won 121-115. AP
HOUSTON, United States — Al Horford had 30 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 121-115 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
Atlanta trailed by 19 early in the game before rallying for the victory. Kent Bazemore added 26 points and Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague both had 22 as the Hawks won for the seventh time in eight games.
Dwight Howard led Houston with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while James Harden had 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Atlanta took a lead late in the fourth quarter and employed the hack-a strategy, intentionally fouling Howard and Clint Capela repeatedly. The strategy was largely successful until Howard made a free throw to take the lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Atlanta then scored the final nine points of the game to steal the road victory.
THUNDER 131, BUCKS 123
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and Kevin Durant added 26 to lead the Thunder to a win over the Bucks.
Enes Kanter added 23 while rookie Cameron Payne had a career-high 16 for the Thunder.
Westbrook and Durant both scored more than 20 points for the 25th time this season as Oklahoma City overcame an early eight-point deficit to win for the 11th time in its last 14 games.
Khris Middleton scored a career-best 36 points to lead Milwaukee.
KNICKS 108, PISTONS 96
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points and Derrick Williams added 18 to lead six Knicks in double figures as New York snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Pistons.
Jose Calderon added 15 points, Kyle O’Quinn had 12, Robin Lopez scored 11, and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 10.
Ersan Ilyasova led the Pistons with 19 points. Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson each had 17.
The Knicks led by only four points, 80-76, early in the fourth quarter, but went on a 25-11 run to take an 18-point lead on Williams’ long jumper with 1:42 left in the game.
Williams scored 16 of his points in the final quarter, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the field.
GRIZZLIES 99, HEAT 90, OT
MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Marc Gasol scored seven of his 23 points in overtime to help the Grizzlies pull away in the extra period for a victory over the Heat.
Zach Randolph added 17 points for Memphis. Mike Conley and Jeff Green had 16 apiece, and Mario Chalmers scored 12 points. Gasol would add eight rebounds, six assists and four blocks, including a pair of rejections in the closing minutes.
Gasol’s overtime performance included a stumbling move in the lane where he flipped the ball to the basket as he was fouled. The shot bounced through, Gasol converted the ensuing free throw and the Grizzlies were up 96-88 with 1:22 left — a lead Memphis would not relinquish.
Chris Bosh led Miami with 22 points, while Dwyane Wade finished with 19. Goran Dragic had 16 points.
The teams were tied at 83 at the end of regulation.
