NBA roundup: James Harden has another triple-double and Rockets get another win

Minutes after collecting 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds in his second straight triple-double performance, Houston’s James Harden was asked what it has been like to play in new Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system.

“It’s been a dream so far,” Harden said.

It looked more like a nightmare to the short-handed New York Knicks after Harden powered the Rockets to a 129-122 win on Saturday night.

“It was like NBA 2K numbers,” New York’s Brandon Jennings said, comparing Harden’s performance to the video game. “I just told him afterward to just go and get the MVP and keep balling and doing what he’s doing.”

Harden became the first player in NBA history to have at least 50 points, 15 assists and 15 rebounds in a single game, according to information provided by the Rockets from the Elias Sport Bureau. He also tied Wilt Chamberlain for most points in a triple-double, set career highs for points and three-pointers with nine, and matched his career best for assists.

He passed his previous career best of 51 points on a three-pointer with 1:16 left, leading to a standing ovation. It was his 17th career triple-double and his fourth career 50-point game.

“It looked very effortless,” teammate Ryan Anderson said. “But it just goes to show how great of a player he is.”

Anderson added 25 points for the Rockets, who have won four in a row.

Jennings had a season-high 32 points for New York, which has dropped four straight.

Cleveland 121, at Charlotte 109: LeBron James scored 32 points, 17 in the first quarter, and the Cavaliers ended a historic year for the franchise and their city with their seventh win in eight games, despite Kyrie Irving’s absence due to a sore hamstring. James, who last June led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship and first title by any Cleveland pro team since 1964, also had nine assists and six rebounds.

Milwaukee 116, at Chicago 96: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points, nine rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Bucks.

Memphis 112, at Sacramento 98: Mike Conley had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies.

at Utah 91, Phoenix 86: Rudy Gobert had 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Jazz.