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With the game tied at 116, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (L) and Victor Oladipo (R) foul Houston Rockets’ Nene as he drives for a basket in the second half of their NBA basketball game in Houston Thursday. - AP
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LOS ANGELES - Brazil’s Nene drained two clutch free throws with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to lift the Houston Rockets to a 118-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday.
James Harden nearly had a triple-double for the Rockets with 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists as Nene added a season-high 18 points. All five Rockets starters scored in double figures and Eric Gordon came off the bench to score 22.
The game-deciding drama started with an inbounds play with three seconds left. Nene set a screen for Harden and drove to the basket. Harden passed out of the double team, hitting Nene in stride and forcing Thunder forward Jerami Grant to commit the foul. The Rockets win spoiled a dynamic performance from Russell Westbrook who made a career-high eight three pointers en route to a 49-point night.
Raptors 101, Jazz 93
Kyle Lowry scored 33 points and Toronto knocked off Utah.
DeMar DeRozan contributed 23 points and seven rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto.
Hawks 99, Pelicans 94
Dennis Schroder scored 22 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:13 remaining to lift Atlanta over New Orleans.
Schroder and Paul Millsap combined for the final 11 points as Atlanta won its fifth straight. Millsap added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Pacers 121, Nets 109
Paul George scored 26 points and Indiana pulled away from Brooklyn and notched its season-high fourth straight win.
Pistons 115, Hornets 114
Reggie Jackson scored 22 points and made two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining after Detroit gave away a 19-point fourth-quarter lead and held on to beat Charlotte.
Elsewhere it was: Spurs 127, Nuggets 99; Suns 102, Mavericks 95; Trail Blazers 118, Lakers 109. - Agencies
