James Harden paired a game-high 27 points with eight assists and Clint Capela produced a monster effort on both ends as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games with a 114-91 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday at Toyota Center.

Houston set a new franchise record with its 59th win, besting the mark set by the 1993-94 NBA champions. The Rockets have won 15 consecutive home games, the second-longest streak in team history, and claimed the season series from the Pelicans by winning three of four games.

Harden surpassed 2,000 points on the season, the first player in the league to do so this season. He has hit that plateau in four consecutive campaigns and five times in six seasons with Houston.

Capela posted 18 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high-tying six blocks in an entertaining battle with Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis, who totaled 25 points, eight boards and four blocks.

76ers 120, Timberwolves 108

Rookie Ben Simmons recorded his 10th triple-double with 15 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as Philadelphia dominated the third quarter and defeated visiting Minnesota.

The 76ers won their sixth straight by outscoring Minnesota 39-19 in the third quarter. They shot 55.6 percent in the period while getting 13 assists and holding Minnesota to 15.8 percent.

Simmons had 10 points and five assists in the third as Philadelphia totaled 33 assists. It was the Sixers' 24th straight game with at least 20 assists, equaling the team record set during the 1992-93 season, and their 20th game this season with at least 30 assists.

Lakers 100, Grizzlies 93

Rookie Kyle Kuzma scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Los Angeles beat Memphis.

Kuzma helped the Lakers halt a four-game losing streak by posting his 21st game with at least 20 points, including his third straight. He shot 5-of-6 in the final 12 minutes and 9-of-21 overall while adding 10 rebounds.

Andrew Harrison had 20 points and Marc Gasol scored 18 for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight game and for the 23rd time in 24 games.

Hornets 102, Mavericks 98

Kemba Walker scored 24 points and made a pivotal steal and Dwight Howard contributed 18 points and 23 rebounds to help Charlotte defeat host Dallas.

Jeremy Lamb added 14 points and Malik Monk scored 11 for the Hornets, who won their third straight game. Charlotte posted a 62-52 rebounding edge and hit 12 of 25 from 3-point range despite shooting just 38 percent overall.

Dennis Smith Jr. scored 21 points and Harrison Barnes added 18 but couldn't prevent Dallas from dropping its fifth straight game.

Pistons 117, Bulls 95

Anthony Tolliver scored a season-high 25 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers, and Detroit had eight players in double figures while rolling past depleted Chicago in Detroit.

Tolliver, a reserve forward, had not scored more than 20 points this season prior to his outburst.

Andre Drummond posted 15 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks for Detroit, which has won three of its last four games. Blake Griffin had 10 points and nine assists while sitting out the fourth quarter in the lopsided win.

Magic 105, Suns 99

Aaron Gordon enjoyed a solid all-around game with 29 points, 11 rebounds, a career-best eight assists and three steals to lead host Orlando past Phoenix.

Nikola Vucevic recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando, which won for just the fourth time in the past 19 games. D.J. Augustin had 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, Mario Hezonja registered 14 points, eight rebounds and matched his season high of four steals and Shelvin Mack scored 12 points.

Josh Jackson scored 18 points and Alex Len added 15 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which has lost 11 straight games and 26 of its last 28.

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

 

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