WASHINGTON — James Harden needed every one of his 59 points against the Washington Wizards.
Harden made one of two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to give the Houston Rockets a 159-158 victory over Washington on Wednesday night.
“I didn’t know we were going to have to score about 160 points to win but whatever it takes it took,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “A lot of great individual performances. They played unbelievable. They didn’t miss anything. We just let down a little bit and they made everything.”
Washington didn’t make everything, but did shot 62.6% from the field and made 20 of 36 3-pointers. Houston shot 53.4% and made 42.6% of its 3s.
Bradley Beal scored 46 points for Washington, hitting three throws with 8.1 seconds left to tie it at 158.
“I hate moral victories,” Beal said. “But it’s always a good feeling knowing that when we lose, it’s always one or two things we can fix.”
Harden had 38 points in the second half — 21 in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth.
“The only way we’ll get to where we want to go is our defensive efforts and it has to be consistent,” Harden said. “Right now we’re not consistent and that’s why we go through tough times like that. That’s what the course of the year is for. We just try and build those habits and continue to keep building.”
Harden was 18 of 32 from the field, 6 of 14 from 3-point range, and made 17 of 18 free throws. He also had nine assists in 37 minutes.
Russell Westbrook had just three points in the first three quarters, then scored 14 in the fourth quarter and finished with his second triple-double of the season. He had 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Clint Capela added 21 points and 12 rebounds to help Houston improved to 3-1.
Rui Hachimura had 23 points in his home debut for the Wizards, Davis Bertans added 21. Washington dropped to 1-3.
Wizards coach Scott Brooks is happy with his reconfigured team. Six of the nine players he used during the game are new to the team.
“We were one play from winning an exciting game,” he said.
76ERS 118, TIMBERWOLVES 95
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid scored 19 points and got into a brawl with Karl-Anthony Towns that sent both players to the showers early, and Philadelphia beat Minnesota to improve to 4-0.
The Sixers were leading 75-55 midway through the third quarter when Embiid and Towns went at it. The two big men have a history of talking trash to each other. After they got tangled under the basket, Embiid shoved Towns, who answered with a punch that missed as both fell to the floor. Ben Simmons jumped in and forcefully held Towns down as other players and coaches ran onto the court.
Embiid and Towns were ejected after a video review. Embiid shadowboxed to the crowd’s delight on his way back to the locker room. Fans responded with “MVP! “MVP!” chants.
Tobias Harris scored 18 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 17, Simmons added 16 for Philadelphia. Al Horford had 16 rebounds and 12 points. Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points for Minnesota.
CELTICS 116, BUCKS 105
BOSTON — Kemba Walker had 21 of his 32 points in the second half and Boston rallied to beat Milwaukee,
Jayson Tatum added 25 points, Gordon Hayward had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Marcus Smart finished with 19 points and six assists.
Milwaukee dominated in the first half, leading 19. But the Celtics responded in the third quarter, using a 26-7 run over the final 6:38 of the period to take an 80-76 edge into the fourth. Boston kept that momentum, beginning the final period with an 11-4 run to open a 91-80 lead.
Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 26 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points and 14 rebounds, but the reigning MVP lost his composure late, picking up a hard foul on Smart and then a technical foul in the final minute.
RAPTORS 125, PISTONS 113
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, including 19 in the third quarter, and Fred VanVleet had 13 points and 11 assists in Toronto’s victory over Detroit.
Siakam made eight of 12 shots in the third, including three of four from 3-point range, as the defending NBA champions outscored Detroit 37-27 to take a 101-85 lead into the fourth.
Kyle Lowry scored 20 points, Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell each had 19 and OG Anonuby added 13 for the Raptors. Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons.
TRAIL BLAZERS 102, THUNDER 99
OKLAHOMA CITY — Damian Lillard had 23 points and 13 assists to help Portland hold off Oklahoma City.
Lillard made 4 of 15 shots the first three quarters, but he made three 3-pointers in an 1:26 flurry in the fourth that turned a three-point deficit into a five-point lead.
C.J. McCollum scored 22 points and Kent Bazemore added 14 for the Trail Blazers. Chris Paul scored 21 points for the Thunder.
CAVALIERS 117, BULLS 111
CLEVELAND — Kevin Love had 17 points and 20 rebounds, Tristan Thompson scored 23 points and the Cleveland beat Chicago.
Love’s basket on a goaltending call gave Cleveland a 91-90 lead early in the fourth quarter. His jumper from the left wing put the Cavaliers ahead 110-106 with just under a minute to play.
Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine each scored 16 points for Chicago.
PACERS 118, NETS 108
NEW YORK — Domantas Sabonis scored 29 points, Jeremy Lamb added 25 and Indiana beat Brooklyn for its first victory in five games this season.
Malcolm Brogdon added 21 points and 13 assists for Indiana.
Kyrie Irving led Brooklyn with 28 points, Spencer Dinwiddie had 20 and Caris LeVert 15. The Nets have lost two in a row to fall to 1-3.
MAGIC 95, KNICKS 82
ORLANDO, Fla. — Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Orlando rallied to beat New York.
Aaron Gordon scored 10 of his 15 points final 5:35 to help Orlando snap a two-game losing streak. Evan Fournier added 14 points, and Jonathan Isaac had 10. Julius Randle led New York with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
HORNETS 118, KINGS 111
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — P.J. Washington scored 23 points and Charlotte overcame a 14-point deficit to beat winless Sacramento.
Terry Rozier had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds for Charlotte. Buddy Hield scored 23 points and Harrison Barnes had 22 for the Kings.
JAZZ 110, CLIPPERS 96
SALT LAKE CITY — Mike Conley snapped an early season slump with 29 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-96 on Wednesday night with Kawhi Leonard sitting out.
“I just wanted to get back to who I am,” Conley said.
Conley had 18 points in the third quarter as the Jazz scored 40 in the period and took a 90-71 lead. Utah (4-1) has won three in a row.
Leonard missed the game for scheduled rest, though coach Doc Rivers has said his star forward has been healthy and energized. The Clippers play the second half of a back-to-back Thursday against San Antonio in Los Angeles.
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 and Rudy Gobert 13.
Lou Williams paced the Clippers (3-2) with 24 points, 16 before halftime.
