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January 12, 2017

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Harden snubs MVP talk after Rockets top Hornets

HOUSTON star James Harden played down talk of being this season’s NBA MVP after his latest high-scoring triple-double on Tuesday.

Harden, one of several players excelling in a high-scoring season across the league, finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as the Rockets improved to 31-9 with a 121-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Rockets talisman came to the hosts’ rescue after Charlotte staged a dramatic fourth-quarter fightback to take a shock lead.

Houston appeared to be cruising after Corey Brewer’s 3-pointer gave it a 108-90 lead with around 8 minutes left.

But Charlotte responded with a 21-2 rally which featured four consecutive 3’s as the Hornets edged into a 111-110 advantage with just over 2 minutes to go.

Harden steadied the ship, however, with an assist for Ryan Anderson’s 3-pointer before adding two layups to settle Houston’s nerves.

His late intervention to secure the game capped another performance likely to ensure he remains firmly in the conversation for the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player.

But the 27-year-old said he is not thinking about personal glory as he spearheads Houston’s drive towards the postseason.

“As long as I play the right way and be unselfish and we win games, all of that is going to come,” Harden said of MVP speculation. “I don’t really put too much into that or think about it too much. If it happens it happens. The most important thing is winning.”

Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 25 points.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, it was: Wizards 101, Bulls 99; Hawks 117, Nets 97; Raptors 114, Celtics 106; Bucks 109, Spurs 107; Jazz 100, Cavaliers 92; Warriors 107, Heat 95; Trail Blazers 108, Lakers 87; and Kings 100, Pistons 94.




 

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