NBA -- Harden drops 42, Rockets ground Wizards

WASHINGTON -- James Harden broke a 99-99 deadlock with a 3-point play in the final 2:13 of regulation and the Houston Rockets went on to beat the Washington Wizards, 109-103, at the Verizon Center.

All told, Harden finished with 42 points on Wednesday night as the Rockets improved to 11-12, good for eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Harden, who shot 13 of 23 from the field, also had nine rebounds and seven assists.

​Corey Brewer finished with 15 from Houston while teammates Patrick Beverley and Clint Capela recorded 14 and 13 points, respectively. ​

​​John Wall had a near triple-double in a losing effort for Washington, finishing with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.​ Bradley Beal pitched in 15 while Otto Porter Jr had 13 points, but the Wizards made only 38 of 89 field goals (43.8 percent) and 5-of-20​ from 3-point range,

The Wizards​, who got 18 points and 13 rebounds from Marcin Gortat ​ dropped to 9-11, 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Photo: James Harden (42 points) was too much for the Washington Wizards, who lost the the Rockets, 109-103 at the Verizon Center.