LOS ANGELES: James Harden scored 25 points, and Dwight Howard added 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Houston Rockets’ second victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in six days, 107-87 on Thursday night.
Terrence Jones had 16 points to help the Rockets avoid a winless three-game trip. They never trailed in their fifth straight win over the Lakers at Staples Center, Houston’s longest road winning streak in the rivalry’s history.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and dunked for the first time in his farewell season, but the Lakers followed up their fourth victory of the season with their 14th loss in 16 games.
Julius Randle added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who at least avoided another blowout loss to the Rockets after losing by 29 last week.
Cavaliers 104, Thunder 100: LeBron James scored 33 points, passed for 11 assists and grabbed nine rebounds, and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers twice rallied from double-digit deficits to beat Oklahoma City 104-100, ending the Thunder’s six-game winning streak.
Tristan Thompson had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, including 11 offensive rebounds. Four of those offensive boards came in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 25 points, but both stars missed potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 10 seconds.
The game was delayed with 3:07 to play after James collided with a courtside fan while diving after a loose ball. The injured woman, Ellie Day, was taken out on a stretcher and was accompanied by her husband, PGA Tour golfer Jason Day.
Hornets 109, Raptors 99 (OT): Jeremy Lin stepped into the starting lineup and scored a season-high 35 points, and Charlotte pulled out an overtime victory over Toronto.
Lin started in place of Nicolas Batum, who missed the game due to illness, and finished 13-of-22 from the field. The Hornets, who got 27 points from Kemba Walker, snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the fifth time in their past seven games.
The Raptors forced overtime by scoring the last seven points of regulation. DeMar DeRozan hit a 35-footer that could have won the game but the Raptors called time out with 0.7 remaining, before the shot. DeRozan led Toronto with 31 points.
Harden, Jones lead Houston Rockets past Lakers again
Harden, Jones lead Houston Rockets past Lakers again
Patriots reach Super Bowl in blizzard-hit 10-7 win over Broncos
LOS ANGELES, US: Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the glory days of predecessor Tom Brady with a blizzard-ravaged 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos Sunday.
In a low-scoring AFC Championship game played out in brutal conditions, Maye rushed for a first-half touchdown, and painstakingly drove the ball downfield after the break to set up a decisive field goal.
No further scoring was possible in the 21 degrees F storm, with the Patriots’ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.
“We battled the elements,” said Maye.
“These conditions, it’s not great throwing the football. But hey, we do what we need to do... We’re off to the Super Bowl. Let’s go!“
The Patriots will play either the Los Angeles Rams or the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
The win cements a remarkable resurgence for the Patriots.
After the dominant era of the Brady dynasty that yielded six Super Bowl titles, New England have endured a painful rebuild, going 3-14 in both the previous two seasons.
But under new head coach Mike Vrabel they were a revelation this season, winning 17 games so far and topping the tough AFC East for the first time since 2019.
‘Costly’
Prior to kickoff, all eyes were on the Broncos’ perennial backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who had not thrown a pass in competitive football for two years.
The 29-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Broncos’ first-choice Bo Nix broke his ankle in the dying moments of last weekend’s victory over the Buffalo Bills.
An understandably nervy Stidham was swiftly and repeatedly blitzed by the Patriots, throwing a wild incomplete pass on an opening drive that ended with a punt.
Moments later his epic 54-yard hurl to Marvin Mims Jr paid off spectacularly, caught deep downfield. Stidham then found Courtland Sutton for the opening TD.
Stidham grew in confidence as the first half progressed, without adding to the lead. The Broncos declined a straightforward field goal attempt at 4th&1 on New England’s 14-yard line, and gave up a turnover on downs.
Then disaster struck, as Stidham fumbled on the Broncos’ 14-yard line for a turnover. Maye, who had been struggling badly, rushed for a touchdown and a 7-7 half-time score.
The fumble would prove “costly,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted after the game.
‘Sick’
The dense snowstorm descended on Denver at the break, making passing difficult and forcing both teams to rely on their run games.
An attritional 18-play drive lasting nearly 10 minutes led to a field goal and slender lead for New England.
The conditions became almost comically treacherous, with multiple players slipping and sliding on nearly every barely-visible play.
Both sides missed multiple field goals in swirling cross-winds, including one blocked by Patriots tackle Leonard Taylor’s fingertips.
With the two-minute warning looming, Stidham attempted a hugely risky 30-yard pass and gave away an interception that proved vital in whiteout conditions.
“It was good at first, and then snow started coming down, wind blowing, I couldn’t see,” said defensive tackle Milton Williams.
“I’m coughing. I’m probably sick right now. But none of that matters. All that matters is that we won the game and we’re going to the Bowl.”
The Patriots, who already boasted the most Super Bowl appearances with 11, will now have their twelfth showing on American football’s biggest stage, and a chance to vie for a record seventh Lombardi trophy.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls playing alongside Brady for the Patriots, would be the first person to win the sport’s ultimate prize as a player and coach for the same franchise.
“I won’t win it — it’ll be the players that will win the game, I promise you,” said Vrabel.
