NEW ORLEANS – The Pelicans had hung around longer than seemed possible or James Harden could stand.
With 7 ½ minutes left on Monday, Harden had 22 points, making 1 of 9 3-pointers. That did not offer much of a warning to what would come, though the past years might have offered a clue.
In the next two minutes, Harden rolled through a 12-0 run, driving the Rockets to a 16-point lead and past the Pelicans, 122-116, Monday in Smoothie King Center.
Harden had 39 points, 19 in the fourth quarter, with nine assists despite making just 3 of 11 3-pointers.