Rockets blast by Raptors as Harden’s 40 points help

James Harden had a game-high 40 points as the Houston Rockets, who had lost their last eight games in Toronto, defeated the Raptors 113-107 on Sunday at Air Canada Centre.

Harden had 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets erased an 85-77, third-quarter deficit to avoid a second consecutive loss overall. The 26-year-old entered Sunday’s game averaging 26.3 points per game in four career visits to Toronto in his highest scoring average of any opposing venue.

Lakers 112, Warriors 95

Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Golden State Warriors 112-95 on Sunday at Staples Centre.

Clarkson, who returned after sitting out Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, connected on 10 of 21 shots from the floor and four of six 3-pointers as Los Angeles earned the biggest upset of the NBA season.

Thunder 104, Bucks 96

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his third triple-double in the last three weeks, but Kevin Durant scored 32 points for Oklahoma City, which snapped a two-game losing streak with a 104-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Centre.

Durant, himself, just missed his second triple-double of the season. He finished with 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Suns 109, Grizzlies 100

Devin Booker scored 27 points and Alex Len added 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 109-100 victory Sunday over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.

The victory was only the third for the Suns (17-46) in their past 18 games. Two of the victories during the stretch have come against the Grizzlies. Memphis (37-25) were led by Mike Conley, who finished with 22 points.

Reserve JaMychal Green scored 17 before fouling out with 3:57 to go. Matt Barnes also scored 17 for the Grizzlies, who had their three-game win streak snapped.

Nuggets 116, Mavericks 114 (OT)

D.J. Augustin hit two free throws with nine-tenths of a second left in overtime, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Dallas Mavericks 116-114 on Sunday.

Augustin scored eight of his 12 points in the extra period to help the Nuggets get payback for an overtime loss in Dallas on February 26.

Heat 103, 76ers 98

Goran Dragic had 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Miami Heat escaped an upset, rallying to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-98 on Sunday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

On a day in which a 13-win Los Angeles Lakers team shocked the 55-win Golden State Warriors, the 76ers nearly pulled their own surprise. The 76ers are the only team in the NBA with a worse record than the Lakers.

Pistons 123, Trail Blazers 103

Reggie Jackson poured in 30 points and made nine assists to lift the Detroit Pistons past the Portland Trail Blazers 123-103 on Sunday at The Palace.

Jackson, who collected his seventh 30-point outing this season, was among six double-figures scorers for the Pistons (32-31) as they bounced back from a 102-89 loss to New York on Saturday. Marcus Morris had 19 points, All-Star Andre Drummond supplied 14 points and 18 rebounds and Tobias Harris contributed 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.