NBA Wrap: Howard's Rockets dominate Lakers

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LOS ANGELES -- Dwight Howard thoroughly enjoyed his first road game against the team he left as a free agent after one tumultuous and contentious season, getting 20 points and 13 rebounds in the Houston Rockets' 134-108 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night that extended their winning streak to eight.

The streak is Houston's longest since a franchise-record, 22-game run in 2007-08 under coach Rick Adelman. James Harden scored 11 of his 29 points in the final 1:25 of the third quarter and added 11 assists.

Wesley Johnson scored 24 points for Los Angeles, and Kendall Marshall had 20 points and 16 assists. The injury-ravaged Lakers remained tied for last place in the Western Conference with Sacramento at 18-36 and are 5-23 since Dec. 20, when they beat Minnesota to get back to the .500 mark at 13-13 (see full recap).

Love dominates in T-wolves' win over Pacers
MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Love had 42 points and 16 rebounds, Ricky Rubio added a career-high 17 assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Paul George and the Indiana Pacers 104-91 on Wednesday night.

J.J. Barea scored 12 points off the bench as the Wolves took control early against the Eastern Conference leaders.

George led Indiana with 35 points, but managed just two in the fourth quarter as the Pacers lost for the third time in five games, never once taking a lead.

It was Love's eighth straight game with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, the longest streak since Shaquille O'Neal accomplished the same feat Jan. 3-19, 2005. Love has an NBA-best 14 games with 30 points and 10 rebounds this season (see full recap).

Mills, Spurs edge Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Patty Mills came off the bench to score 29 points, Marco Belinelli hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-109 Wednesday night in a battle of short-handed teams.

Mills scored 24 points during the second half to lead the Spurs, who were playing without starters Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

Belinelli had 20 points and Manu Ginobili 16 for San Antonio, which also had Kawhi Leonard out with an injured right hand.

Damian Lillard scored 31 points, Mo Williams added 19 points and Wesley Matthews had 18 for Portland, which played without LaMarcus Aldridge. The Trail Blazers' leading scorer and rebounder is out with a groin injury.

Both teams had six players score in double figures (see full recap).

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