Harden on fire as Rockets down Cavaliers

PIC: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Macrh 12, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. (AFP/Getty Images)

James Harden exploded for 38 points as the Houston Rockets jolted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 117-112 victory on Sunday.

Harden led the scoring and completed his 16th triple-double of the season with 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Rockets improved to 46-21 to strengthen their grip on third spot in the Western Conference standings.

Harden was one of six Houston players to make double figures, with Ryan Anderson the next top scorer with 16 points while Patrick Beverley and Eric Gordon both weighed in with 13 apiece.

Cleveland, who fell to 43-22, were reliant of James and Kyrie Irving to provide the bulk of their points.

James led the Cavs scoring with 30 points while Irving weighed with 28. Only one other Cleveland player -- Richard Jefferson with 16 -- made double figures at Houston's Toyota Center.

With the exception of James and Irving, a weary Cavs line-up looked to be suffering after-effects from Saturday's road game in Orlando, where no fewer than seven players had posted double figures.

Harden's virtuoso display ultimately tipped a back-and-forth battle Houston's way.

The 27-year-old point guard's 11-point third quarter was crucial as Houston wiped out a nine-point halftime deficit to haul the Rockets back into the contest.

A high-quality game saw both teams exchange a series of long-range field goals in the opening period.

Cleveland looked to have taken a grip on the game with a red-hot shooting spree which saw them drain six consecutive three-pointers.

Jefferson was responsible for three of those efforts as Cleveland went 57-45 ahead early in the third period.

But Harden led Houston back into the game and the Rockets' superior depth of scoring ultimately told in the fourth quarter.