National Basketball Association

Harden scores 40 to help Rockets beat Lakers 130-110

Published Apr. 10, 2016 8:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

HOUSTON (AP) James Harden scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, and the Houston Rockets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 130-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Harden also had 13 assists. Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley scored 19 points apiece for the Rockets (39-41), who had lost two in a row.

The Lakers pulled within two early in the fourth quarter before Harden got rolling, scoring 16 points in less than four minutes to help push the lead to 108-96.

Kobe Bryant, who has just two games left before his retirement, had 35 points for the Lakers, who lost their fifth straight.