Rockets run hot streak to 12 straight and 21 of 25
James Harden
James Harden  scored a game-high 41 points for the Rockets. (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing  USA TODAY Sports)
 James Harden  had 41 points and eight rebounds  Chris Paul scored 23 points and the Rockets beat the Nuggets 119-114 on Sunday night for their 12th straight victory.
 Harden  had 27 in the first half and seven in the fourth quarter  when the Rockets held off a late Denver rally.  Harden  has scored 40 or more points nine times this season.  He  finished with seven assists.
"Having a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter  we've got to finish games off like that "  Harden  said. "It was a good thing we finished the game off the right way down the stretch. We got stops when we needed to and we made shots."
That was when  Harden  took over.  He  scored 14 points in the last 2:47 of the period and assisted on Houston's other two baskets to end the period  when the Rockets extended the lead from five to 13.
Houston led by as many as 18 but Denver rallied in the fourth. Jokic's tip with 2:12 left made it 110-106 and after Joe Johnson missed from the corner  Gary Harris had a chance to cut it to a point with a 3-pointer. But the Nuggets' leading scorer  who finished with six points on 2-of-12 shooting  misfired and  Harden  hit two more free throws to make it 112-106 with 1:17 left.
DIFFERENT DEFENSE  SAME RESULT: The Nuggets lost by 25 and 30 points in Houston earlier this season  so they changed how they guarded the Rockets on Sunday by switching more on defense.  Harden  found  himself  going against the 7-foot Jokic and 6-11 Mason Plumlee a lot of the night. The new look didn't bother  him .
"We've seen a lot of defenses  and no matter who they put on James it's a pretty good chance  he 's going to score " Trevor Ariza said. "We give  him  the ball and let  him  make plays. It's been working out for us."
SIDELINE ASSIST: With Houston ahead 106-99 and 4:51 left  Ariza tried to save a ball off  Harden 's miss as it went into the crowd  but a fan sitting courtside grabbed the ball before he could get to it. Ariza pleaded with the referee that he had a chance to save it and then had a lighthearted exchange with the fan.
[TGT] scored a game-high 41 points for the Rockets. (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing  USA TODAY Sports)
  [TGT] had 41 points and eight rebounds  Chris Paul scored 23 points and the Rockets beat the Nuggets 119-114 on Sunday night for their 12th straight victory.
  [TGT] had 27 in the first half and seven in the fourth quarter  when the Rockets held off a late Denver rally.   [TGT] has scored 40 or more points nine times this season.   [TGT]   finished with seven assists.
"Having a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter  we've got to finish games off like that "  Harden  said. "It was a good thing we finished the game off the right way down the stretch. We got stops when we needed to and we made shots."
That was when   [TGT] took over.   [TGT]   scored 14 points in the last 2:47 of the period and assisted on Houston's other two baskets to end the period  when the Rockets extended the lead from five to 13.
Houston led by as many as 18 but Denver rallied in the fourth. Jokic's tip with 2:12 left made it 110-106 and after Joe Johnson missed from the corner  Gary Harris had a chance to cut it to a point with a 3-pointer. But the Nuggets' leading scorer  who finished with six points on 2-of-12 shooting  misfired and   [TGT] hit two more free throws to make it 112-106 with 1:17 left.
DIFFERENT DEFENSE  SAME RESULT: The Nuggets lost by 25 and 30 points in Houston earlier this season  so they changed how they guarded the Rockets on Sunday by switching more on defense.   [TGT] found   [TGT]   going against the 7-foot Jokic and 6-11 Mason Plumlee a lot of the night. The new look didn't bother   [TGT]  .
"We've seen a lot of defenses  and no matter who they put on James it's a pretty good chance   [TGT]  's going to score " Trevor Ariza said. "We give   [TGT]   the ball and let   [TGT]   make plays. It's been working out for us."
SIDELINE ASSIST: With Houston ahead 106-99 and 4:51 left  Ariza tried to save a ball off  Harden 's miss as it went into the crowd  but a fan sitting courtside grabbed the ball before he could get to it. Ariza pleaded with the referee that he had a chance to save it and then had a lighthearted exchange with the fan.