NBA-Highlights of Wednesday's NBA games

April 1 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Wednesday's National Basketball Association games: - - - Rockets 115, Kings 111 James Harden scored a career-high 51 points and carried the Houston Rockets to a wild victory over the stubborn Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. After scoring 17 points in the third quarter, including 11 in succession during one stretch, Harden was called upon to save the Rockets (51-24) again after the Kings (26-48) cut a 14-point deficit to 104-102 midway through the fourth. Harden drained a three-pointer with 5:25 left to play, added a driving layup less than a minute later, and then converted a three-point play with 4:04 remaining to rebuild the lead to 112-102. Harden added eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in his second career 50-point game. Rockets forward Terrence Jones chipped in 16 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven blocks while forward Trevor Ariza scored 22 points while connecting on 6 of 14 three-pointers. - - - Hornets 102, Pistons 78 Forward Marvin Williams scored 18 points and guard Kemba Walker added 17, as Charlotte cruised to a much-needed win over Detroit. The Hornets were in control throughout, leading by as many as 20 in the first half before extending in the second half despite a lot of sloppy play. - - - Mavericks 135, Thunder 131 Guard Monta Ellis scored 26 points to lead Dallas past Oklahoma City at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Mavs (46-29) pushed their lead over the Thunder (42-33) to four games for seventh place in the Western Conference standings. Dallas forward Chandler Parsons scored 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Forward Dirk Nowitzki and center Amar'e Stoudemire each posted 18 points. - - - Spurs 103, Magic 91 San Antonio continued its late-season surge toward the playoffs by crushing outmatched Orlando for a fifth consecutive victory. The Spurs, who won in Miami on Tuesday, have won 15 of their last 18 games. They did it Wednesday with reserves carrying much of the load, and the starters resting the entire fourth quarter. - - - Bucks 95, Bulls 91 Michael Carter-Williams scored 21 points and Ersan Ilyasova added 16 as the Bucks rallied late and held on for a close victory over the Bulls in a possible Eastern Conference playoff preview. Milwaukee trailed by five early in the fourth quarter but grinded its way back and tied that game at 76 on a layup by shooting guard O.J. Mayo with 10:08 to play. - - - Raptors 113, Timberwolves 99 Toronto shot 55.3 percent from the floor and led almost all game in a win against Minnesota at Target Center. Toronto, averaging the fourth-most points in the NBA this season entering the game, made easy work of Minnesota, which is allowing the most points in the league. - - - Celtics 100, Pacers 87 Kelly Olynyk, looking more like Rocky Balboa than a basketball player with his left eye virtually swollen shut, came off the bench to lead Boston Celtics to victory over Indiana Pacers. The Boston forward, whose left eyelid was cut and his eye swollen from an elbow delivered by teammate Shavlik Randolph in an afternoon one-on-one workout, scored 19 points as the Celtics won their second straight to keep pace in their surprise battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. - - - Nets 100, Knicks 98 A follow-up by center Brook Lopez with two seconds to play gave Brooklyn a win over New York at Madison Square Garden. Lopez, who scored 18 points for Brooklyn (34-40), was able to get position to put back his own missed tip after a jumper from guard Deron Williams fell short. - - - Wizards 106, 76ers 93 Center Marcin Gortat scored 23 points, and guard John Wall had 13 points and 15 assists as Washington routed Philadelphia. Guard Bradley Beal had 20 points for the Wizards, who never trailed, led 65-42 at halftime and were in front by as many as 34 in the second half. Gortat grabbed 14 rebounds and finished 10-for-11 from the field. - - - Jazz 98, Nuggets 84 Center Rudy Gobert scored a career-high 20 points and collected 12 rebounds and guard Dante Exum dished out a career-high 12 assists to lead Utah Jazz past Denver Nuggets. Forward Derrick Favors scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and three blocked shots to help the Jazz (34-41) win their third straight game. (Editing By Cameron French)