G James Harden scored a season-high 29 points and the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-91 in their home opener at the Toyota Center on Saturday."I think our mindset is getting better no matter who we play," Harden said. "From the beginning of the game we were locked in, and offensively, we made shots. That's going to be our blueprint, defensive stops."Harden was on target, shooting 9 of 15 from the field for 26 points in the first half alone. He scored 27 points in each of the first two games.Harden has hit four or more 3-pointers in three straight games. Harden did that 37 times last season.

BOSTON -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the Boston Celtics' emotional home opener with a 108-100 victory Wednesday night.Boston, which lost for the second straight night under the cloud of the gruesome injury sustained by newcomer Gordon Hayward in Cleveland on Tuesday, appeared to tire late as the Bucks turned a six-point, fourth-quarter deficit into a win.In addition to his points in the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo had two steals, two (of his 13) rebounds and two assists as the Bucks used a 17-4 run to take control.Hayward addressed the crowd pregame from his hospital bed, stating, "I'm gonna be all right." With 3:21 left in the first half, the crowd broke into a chant of "Gor-don Hay-ward." Hayward was undergoing surgery Wednesday night, his father tweeted.Trail Blazers 124, Suns 76PHOENIX -- Damian Lillard scored 27 points and Portland handed Phoenix its worst loss in the 50-year history of the franchise.The previous... [More]

G James Harden scored 27 points in Tuesday's 122-121 victory at Golden State.

G James Harden says he will be in Houston "forever" after officially signing the richest contract in NBA history. Harden last week agreed to a four-year maximum contract extension that means he will make $228 million over the next six seasons through 2022-23. The 27-year-old Harden, runner-up for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award last season, has two years and $59 million left on his current contract. The four-year extension carries a value of $169 million.

The New York Knicks now appear to be pausing trade talks involving 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony.The Knicks want to pursue a conversation with Anthony about possibly reincorporating him into the organization, league sources told ESPN.After talking with the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers over the past month about a possible deal for Anthony, the Knicks told both teams they are stepping back from trade talks for a short time, according to the report.The Knicks are in the middle of reshaping their front office after the departure of Phil Jackson as team president last month following three disappointing seasons.The Knicks' top basketball executive, Steve Mills, reportedly will be elevated from general manager to president and the team reached an agreement with Sacramento Kings vice president of basketball operations Scott Perry to become the new GM.Perry, who get a five-year deal, will report to Mills, ESPN reported Friday. The Knicks are planning to sign Mills to a new multiyear... [More]

Carmelo Anthony is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Houston Rockets, and the New York Knicks are ramping up their efforts to oblige. According to ESPN, the teams are diligently working on a deal to send Anthony to Houston where he would join All-Star point guard Chris Paul and James Harden, another All-Star and volume scorer who flourished in Mike D'Antoni's offense last season. Anthony and former team president Phil Jackson feuded through the media with the Knicks mired in a rebuild and Anthony, who signed a five-year, $124 million deal upon Jackson's arrival, failing to meet Jackson's expectations. ESPN reported that the Rockets aren't being bashful about paying Anthony his guaranteed salary ($26,243,760) for the 2017-18 season, but the final year of that contract in 2018-19 ($27.9 million guaranteed) might be a roadblock unless the Knicks are willing to absorb a portion.A solution could be in the fine print of the contract.The contract includes a trade kicker of 15 percent,... [More]

G James Harden and the Houston Rockets agreed on a four-year contract extension that is the richest in NBA history.The contract is a super-maximum extension that will guarantee Harden $228 million through the 2022-23 season, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst on Saturday. The 27-year-old Harden, runner-up for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award last season, has two years and $59 million left on his current contract. The four-year extension carries a value of $170 million. He is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 29.1 points, a league-best 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.

New York Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony may now be open to a waiving his no-trade clause to join the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers.The arrival of All-Star Chris Paul to team up with James Harden jumped Houston into contention for Anthony and established his interest in joining the Rockets, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Cavaliers continue to remain a preferred destination for Anthony because of the presence of LeBron James.Anthony was a consistent target of former Knicks president Phil Jackson, who pushed Anthony to waive his no-trade clause and leave New York for a team in position to contend for an NBA title.Jackson parted ways with the Knicks last week after three disappointing seasons in charge of basketball operations. The Knicks were 31-51 in 2016-17, falling well short of expectations with their third consecutive 50-loss season. Anthony and Jackson were at odds throughout the season because of trade speculation. As the tension grew between the... [More]

PG James Harden was the only unanimous choice on the All-NBA first team in balloting announced by the league on Thursday. Harden earned all 500 points by being named as one of five first-team selections on each of the 100 ballots.Joining Harden on the first team are Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (498), Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook (498), San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (490) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (343).

Houston Rockets point guard James Harden was the only unanimous choice on the All-NBA first team in balloting announced by the league on Thursday. Harden earned all 500 points by being named as one of five first-team selections on each of the 100 ballots.Joining Harden on the first team are Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (498), Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook (498), San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (490) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (343).James and Westbrook each received one second-team vote in failing to join Harden as a unanimous choice.Earning second-team honors were Utah center Rudy Gobert (339 points), Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (290), Milwaukee Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (258), Warriors small forward Kevin Durant (239) and Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (236).Selected to the third team were Golden State power forward Draymond Green (134), Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (125),... [More]

Houston star James Harden is the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by Moses Malone Jr. that alleges the Rockets' guard orchestrated a beating and robbery last summer after he was angered by a Facebook post from Malone.Malone alleges that Harden paid $20,000 to have him beaten.Harden was allegedly peeved at Malone's comments on June 24, 2016 that sharply criticized him for charging $249 for his basketball camp.On the night of June 25, Malone arrived at a strip club called V Live that he and Harden frequently attended. Court documents say the bouncer, Darian Blount, refused to allow entry to Malone and called over three other men.One of the men allegedly flashed a gun while Blount said Malone had "disrespected James Harden and that he needs to be punished after that."Malone told police he was repeatedly punched and kicked and robbed of $50,000 in jewelry.The following month, Blount was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon as were three others: Kavon Boutte, Deavon Lewis and... [More]

James Harden was adamant all season that he doesn't need any rest during the NBA season.That could change next season after Harden put forth one of most putrid performances by a star player in NBA postseason history. The Houston Rockets star had just 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting and committed six turnovers on Thursday as his club was steamrolled 114-75 by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. San Antonio won the series, four games to two, and totally shut down Harden over the final six quarters.Harden had just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting and committed six turnovers during the second half of Game 5.The ending made it a down note for Harden, who averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds during the regular season when he missed just one game, due to illness.Houston coach Mike D'Antoni asserted that rest is something that will happen occasionally next season."All great players think they can do everything," D'Antoni told reporters. "Maybe he does... [More]

G James Harden was a nonfactor as Houston was eliminated, scoring 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting. He added seven assists and six turnovers.Harden fouled out with 3:15 remaining."They did a really good job of crowding and showing bodies, their bigs at the rim," Harden said. "I couldn't get a rhythm, especially to the basket. Pau (Gasol) did a really good job of using his length at the rim. Hat's off to them."

G James Harden recorded his first triple-double of the series with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but committed nine turnovers in Tuesday's 110-107 overtime loss in San Antonio that put Houston in a 3-2 hole in their Western Conference best-of-7 semifinal series. Harden had a chance to tie the game, but his 3-point try was blocked from behind by Manu Ginobili. "I just missed too many shots," said Harden, who was 11 of 24 from the floor and 4 of 15 from 3-point range. "We couldn't get in a rhythm at the end of the game or in the overtime. We had an opportunity to win this game and take a lead back home and we let it slip away. But we will be ready on Thursday."

G James Harden was superb throughout on Sunday in Houston's 125-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs, recording game highs in points (28) and assists (12)

G James Harden scored a game-high 43 points, including 30 of the Rockets' 53 second-half points, but and just five assists as San Antonio effectively stifled his teammates. Harden entered Game 3 averaging 12 assists in the series. Houston shot just 36.4 percent overall, including 4-of-16 shooting on 3s in the second half. "They did a good job of just staying home on our shooters and forcing me to finish and make plays," said Harden, who shot 14 of 28 from the floor.

G James Harden recorded 13 points and 10 assists while shooting 3-for-17 from the field in Wednesday's 121-96 loss in San Antonio. "I just missed shots," Harden said. "I didn't convert layups. We knew they were going to come out with some aggressiveness. We just have to go out there and take care of business and do the things we didn't do tonight."

G James Harden had 20 points and 14 assists as the Rockets jumped on San Antonio in the opening minutes and rolled to a 126-99 victory at the AT&T Center.

HOUSTON -- Lou Williams scored 10 points during an opening burst in the fourth quarter, and James Harden finished with a team-high 34 points as the Houston Rockets rallied for a 105-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night to claim their Western Conference first-round playoff series in five games.Williams opened the fourth with two free throws and added three more from the line plus a deep 3-pointer that pushed the Houston lead to 86-81. The Rockets once again made progress with the Thunder's Russell Westbrook on the bench, holding onto their lead even after Westbrook re-entered the game with 9:09 left.Westbrook amassed 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists but shot 2 of 11 in the final period -- 0 for 5 from behind the 3-point arc -- after carrying the Thunder to the lead in the third. None of his teammates finished with more than 11 points.Harden shot 16 of 17 from the free-throw line. Williams totaled 22 points, while guard Patrick Beverley added 15 points and eight... [More]

G James Harden overcame another poor shooting performance from the floor (8 of 25) and finished with a team-high 34 points. He was 16 of 17 from the free-throw line.