HOUSTON Rockets guard James Harden dribbles around Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon during the first half of their NBA game on Sunday. AP
LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul returned from injury, but it was James Harden’s 40 points that fueled the Houston Rockets’ 103-98 come-from-behind victory over the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association on Sunday.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Harden extended his streak of games with at least 30 points to 23. He chipped in 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots — including one in the last 30 seconds to help the Rockets seal the win.
Paul, who missed 17 games with a left hamstring injury, finished with 12 points, six assists and five steals.
Houston trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter, never taking the lead until there were less than five minutes remaining.
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Harden keyed their rally, scoring seven straight Rockets points in the final 2:12 of the contest starting with a basket that put Houston up 95-93.
“They kept digging it and digging it and finally we held them to 37 in the second half,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “That was awesome — that was really good defense.”
Paul George led the way in Oklahoma City, scored 36 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in the Thunder’s 118-112 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.
Russell Westbrook notched his 16th triple-double of the season with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Thunder put the brakes on Milwaukee’s Most Valuable Player candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo to post a fifth straight win.
Oklahoma City led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter.
In Dallas, Toronto star Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and the Raptors withstood a triple-double from Dallas rookie Luka Doncic in a 123-120 victory over the Mavericks.
Pascal Siakam converted a three-point play with 3:56 remaining to break a 108-108 tie as the Raptors erased a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Elsewhere, the NBA-worst Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a six-game skid with a 104-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The game came down to the final possession, with Bulls guard Zach LaVine’s three-point attempt over Cedi Osman bouncing off the rim at the buzzer.
The Cavs limited the Bulls to one basket from the field in the final 3:50 as they clung on for the win.
In New York, the Miami Heat climbed back to .500 with a 106-97 victory over the Knicks.
