The Houston Rockets used some late-game heroics from guards James Harden and Chris Paul to defeat a tough Miami Heat team 99-90 on Monday. Harden broke an 88-88 tie with a 29-foot three-pointer, and he and Paul later hit contested jumpers inside the arc to seal the win for the Rockets (33-12). Harden finished with 28 points, and Paul and Eric Gordon added 16 apiece.

The Heat (27-20), who came into the game winners of nine of their past 11 games, were led by Hassan Whiteside, who had 22 points (16 of those in the first quarter) and 13 rebounds.

As for Clint Capela, the Rockets center finished with 14 points and eight boards. It was Capela who said Saturday after the Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors that Houston were now the better team. Despite Capela's boast, the Rockets still trail the Warriors by three games in the Western Conference standings.

DeMarcus Cousins put up some huge numbers in the Pelicans' 132-128 double-OT win over the Bulls. Cousins had 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. According to ESPN, that is only the 10th 40-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game in NBA history. Ricky Rubio had twice as many turnovers (four) as points (two) in Utah's 104-90 loss to the Hawks. He hit only one of his eight shots from the floor.

The Bulls and Pelicans had a strange finish to regulation in New Orleans. The Pelicans were headed for the win until Bulls guard Justin Holiday got fouled on a shot he did not get off before the buzzer. But after Holiday tied the game with two of three free throws, Pelicans star Anthony Davis came close to winning the game on a full-court heave.

MONDAY'S RESULTS

Charlotte Hornets 112-107 Sacramento Kings
Atlanta Hawks 104-90 Utah Jazz
Houston Rockets 99-90 Miami Heat
Memphis Grizzlies 105-101 Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks 109-105 Phoenix Suns
New Orleans Pelicans 132-128 Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks 98-75 Washington Wizards
Denver Nuggets 104-101 Portland Trail Blazers
Minnesota Timberwolves 126-118 Los Angeles Clippers