Rockets rout Cavs, Raptors avenge loss to Brooklyn Nets

Los Angeles. James Harden finished with 43 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to earn his fourth 40-point triple double of the season as the Houston Rockets hammered the Cleveland Cavaliers 141-113 on Friday.

Harden set a club record with his 13th 40-point game of the season despite sitting out the fourth quarter with the contest already in hand.

He made all 11 of his free throws and got his 10th rebound with 82 seconds left in the third quarter when Cleveland’s Jalen Jones missed a three point attempt.

Harden said the biggest thing on their mind is winning the top seed in the Western Conference.

“I think we’ve all had that in the back of our mind. It was just a far reach earlier in the season,” Harden said.

“Now it’s pretty close. We’ve just got to continue to do what we’ve been doing. Playing well, taking care of opportunities like this tonight. Just continue to get better, strive to get better.” (AFP)