James Harden lifts Houston Rockets over Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies trump Brooklyn Nets

NBA All-Star James Harden scored 20 of his 40 points in the final quarter as the Houston Rockets finished strongly to beat the Phoenix Suns 127-118 on Tuesday.

The Rockets trailed 99-89 at the end of the third period on the road at US Airways Center in Phoenix but Harden produced a mammoth finale to give the visitors a nine-point win.

Harden successfully converted a four-point play at the start of the fourth before scoring eight in a row late in the quarter as the Rockets (36-19) bounced back from Sunday's 109-98 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 25-year-old shooting guard also had 12 rebounds and nine assists for a double-double in Houston's penultimate game before the All-Star break.

Josh Smith posted 20 points of his own - his best tally for the Rockets this season.

The Suns (29-25) were led by Eric Bledsoe (32 points) and Goran Dragic (20).

A big opener quarter helped the Memphis Grizzlies past the Brooklyn Nets 95-86.

The Grizzlies (39-13) outscored the Nets by 17 points in the first period and that proved the difference as the Eastern Conference's second-ranked team triumph at FedExForum.

Zach Randolph (19), Courtney Lee (15), Marc Gasol (14, 11 rebounds), Beno Udrih (13), Tony Allen (12) and Jeff Green (11) all had double-digit points for the Grizzlies, who have won 14 of their past 16 games.

Nets (21-31) pair Mason Plumlee and Alan Anderson sunk 15 points apiece.

The Sacramento Kings were no match for the Chicago Bulls, trounced 104-86 on the road.

Double-digit points from Pau Gasol, Tony Snell and Derrick Rose inspired the rout.

Gasol (26 points, 16 rebounds) had his 34th double-double of the season, Snell registered a career-high 24 points, while Rose contributed 23 points.

Rudy Gay scored 24 points for the Kings.

Elsewhere, the Detroit Pistons crushed the Charlotte Hornets 106-78 and the Denver Nuggets downed the Los Angeles Lakers 106-96.