Harden and Ariza lead Rockets to 112-111 win over Pelicans
Houston Rockets
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- James Harden scored 35 points and Trevor Ariza added a season-high 31 to help the hot-shooting Houston Rockets beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 112-111 on Monday night.
The Pelicans played the second half without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who left late in the second quarter with a concussion after getting elbowed in the head by teammate Tyreke Evans.
Houston, which did not have center Dwight Howard for the third straight game due to a left ankle sprain, hit a season-high 19 3-pointers. Ariza connected on his first six 3s.
Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 32 points for the Pelicans, adding nine assists and six rebounds. He had a chance to win the game after New Orleans got the ball with 4.7 seconds left following a Houston shot-clock violation. Out of timeouts, the Pelicans had to go the length of the court, and Holiday's contested 35-foot shot at the buzzer did not come close.