Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016 42 Harden powers Rockets over Knicks

NEW YORK: showed his versa- tility by making a smooth transition from shooting to point guard with his second dou- ble-double in as many nights as the beat the New York Knicks 118-99 on Wednesday. Filling in for Patrick Beverley, who is recovering from knee surgery, Harden was spectacular in his new role. He tallied 30 points and 15 assists to lead the Rockets at Madison Square Garden. Harden had 41 points and 15 assists in a 128- 120 loss at Cleveland on Tuesday. Harden said he feels more in command in his new posi- tion. “I’m able to control the game a lot more,” Harden said. “I’m able to advance pass- es, guys are running out, guys are prepared to shoot the ball. “It is a variety of things where I can get the ball to guys a lot easier. We have so many offensive weapons that it makes my job a lot easier. I just have to pick my spots and make the right play.” Harden entered the game leading the league in assists with 11.8 per game. That is exactly what Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni had hoped to get from Harden this early in the season. “(Harden) threw some passes that were ridiculous,” D’Antoni said. “He hit some timely shots at the end of quarters. He played really well.” The all-star guard connected on five of 12 three-point attempts as Houston shot 39.5 percent from beyond the arc.

HORNETS 19, 76ers 93 Kemba Walker had 22 points and scored 17 of 20 points in a pivotal third quarter as the Charlotte Hornets handed the Philadelphia 76ers their fourth straight loss to open the season, 109-93 on Wednesday night. Led by Batum, the Hornets opened the NEW YORK: New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Sam second half on a 16-2 run to erase a seven- Dekker, left, guard James Harden, second from right, and forward during the second half of an NBA point halftime deficit and gain control. The game, Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, at Madison Square Garden. — AP 76ers didn’t help themselves with eight turnovers in the third quarter that led to 12 selves in with 21 turnovers that Toronto CELTICS 107, BULLS 100 JAZZ 97, MAVERICKS 81 Charlotte points. Frank Kaminsky provided a turned into 30 points. Isaiah Thomas had 23 points and 10 George Hill scored 25 points as the Jazz huge boost off the bench for Charlotte (3-1), assists as Boston handed the Bulls their first defeated the Mavericks. Hill continued to finishing with 14 points for his second- GRIZZLIES 89, PELICANS 83, OT loss of the season. Amir Johnson also fin- power the Jazz offensively after coming to the straight double-digit game since returning JaMychal Green scored 21 points and Mike ished with 23 points, including four 3-point- team in a three-way trade with the Pacers and from a sprained foot. Conley as the Grizzlies beat the still-winless ers. The Bulls cut into what had been a 16- Hawks last summer. He has scored 18-plus Pelicans. James Ennis had 16 points and 10 point Boston lead in the fourth quarter and points in all five games, the only Jazz player to NETS 109, PISTONS 101 rebounds for Memphis, while Zach Randolph tied it at 100 on two free throws by Nikola do so. Rodney Hood scored 22 points and Brook Lopez had 34 points and 11 finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, part Mirotic. But Boston regained the lead 101- grabbed seven rebounds for the Jazz as team- rebounds and Sean Kilpatrick added 24 points of the Grizzlies outrebounding the Pelicans 100, then went up five on a driving layup by mate Rudy Gobert had 12 points, 12 rebounds as the Nets beat the Pistons. Brooklyn hit 16 52-43. Lance Stephenson led New Orleans Thomas and basket by Marcus Smart. Jimmy and three blocks. Harrison Barnes led the of its 20 shots in the first quarter to take a 38- with 21 points and six assists, while Langston Butler led with 23 points and nine Mavericks with 14 points, but they shot just 30 advantage. Detroit cut the lead to 11 head- Galloway and rookie Buddy Hield had 18 rebounds. 26.9 percent behind the arc. — Agencies ing into the fourth quarter and then as close points each. Anthony Davis, the league’s sec- as five with 1:34 remaining. Tobias Harris and ond-leading scorer, was limited to 10 points, each scored 23 points, connecting on only 3 of 13 shots as New NBA results/standings Orleans lost its fifth straight. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 points and Toronto 113, Washington 103; Charlotte 109, Philadelphia 93; Brooklyn 109, Detroit 101; Jon Leuer added 11 for the Pistons. THUNDER 85, CLIPPERS 83 Houston 118, NY Knicks 99; La Lakers 123, Atlanta 116; Memphis 89, New Orleans 83 (OT); hit a jumper with 18.7 Boston 107, Chicago 100; Utah 97, Dallas 81; Phoenix 118, Portland 115 (OT); Oklahoma City LAKERS 123, HAWKS 116 85, LA Clippers 83. scored 16 of his 18 points in seconds left and finished with 35 points as the fourth quarter as the Lakers rallied after Oklahoma City remained unbeaten with vic- Eastern Conference Western Conference trailing most of the game to beat the Hawks. tory over Los Angeles. Westbrook added six Atlantic Division Northwest Division D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers with 23 rebounds and five assists for the Thunder, W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 4 0 1.000 - points. Dwight Howard had 31 points and 11 who surged in the final minutes of a tight Boston 3 1 .750 - Utah 3 2 .600 1.5 rebounds and Tim Hardaway Jr had 26 points meeting between Western Conference con- Toronto 3 1 .750 - Portland 2 3 .400 2.5 for Atlanta. tenders. had 15 points, 11 Brooklyn 2 3 .400 1.5 Denver 1 2 .333 2.5 rebounds and nine assists for the Clippers, NY Knicks 1 3 .250 2 Minnesota 1 2 .333 2.5 RAPTORS 113, WIZARDS 103 who hit just one shot in a 5 1/2-minute span Philadelphia 0 4 0 3 Pacific Division DeMar DeRozan continued his hot start by late in the fourth quarter. Central Division LA Clippers 3 1 .750 - scoring 40 points and outdueling John Wall in Cleveland 4 0 1.000 - Golden State 3 1 .750 - a showcase of All-Star guards as the Raptors SUNS 118, TRAIL BLAZERS 115, OT Chicago 3 1 .750 1 Sacramento 2 3 .400 1.5 Eric Bledsoe dropped in a rainbow 3-point- beat the winless Wizards. DeRozan was 14 of Detroit 3 2 .600 1.5 LA Lakers 2 3 .400 1.5 er at the overtime buzzer, giving Phoenix vic- 23 from the floor despite leaving the game Milwaukee 2 2 .500 2 Phoenix 1 4 .200 2.5 tory over Portland. Bledsoe finished with 20 briefly to get his ankles taped. Raptors back- Indiana 2 2 .500 2 Southwest Division points, his only 3 being the game-winner. The court made Kyle Lowry needed three stitches Southeast Division San Antonio 4 1 .800 - shot gave the Suns their first win of the sea- to close a cut below his right eye but still Atlanta 3 1 .750 - Houston 3 2 .600 1 son. The Suns went ahead by six points in Charlotte 3 1 .750 - scored 18 points. Wall was dominant in lead- Memphis 3 2 .600 1 overtime, but the Blazers tied it at 115 when Miami 2 2 .500 1 ing Washington with 33 points on 13 of 19 Dallas 0 4 0 3.5 Lillard scored and was fouled with 6.4 sec- Orlando 1 3 .250 2 shooting and 11 assists. Otto Porter was 11 of New Orleans 0 5 0 4 13 from the field for 23 points and Bradley onds left. Lillard’s 27 points led the Blazers, Washington 0 3 0 2.5 Beal scored 15, but the Wizards did them- with C.J. McCollum adding 24.