James Harden, Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons sat out most of the fourth quarter on Tuesday as the Houston Rockets trounced the Sacramento Kings, before they face the Los Angeles Clippers in the highly anticipated game of Wednesday NBA Action.
Harden spent 31.10 minutes on floor to score a season-high 43 points, Howard dominated the paint area with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Parson added 10 points as Rockets held on to a 129-103 road-trip win over Sacramento.
Kings and Rockets wrapped the regular season series with two wins apiece.
Later on Wednesday, Houston and Clippers will square off for the third best record in the Western Conference, although the Rockets have lost the previous two meetings.
The Clippers share the best home record (23-5) with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West coast.
LOVE SHY OF A TRIPLE-DOUBLE
In Arizona, Kevin Love was an assist shy of a triple-double performance as he led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 110-101 win at Phoenix Suns.
After recording his first career triple-double at Utah Jazz on Saturday, Love scored a game-high 33 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out nine assists for the Wolves who tied the regular season series 1-1.
Markieff Morris scored 24 and Gerald Green 19 for Phoenix, but when their star playmaker Slovenian Goran Dragic fouled out with 3.46 minutes remaining, the Suns struggled offensively.
Suns and Wolves face each other again on 23 March at Target Centre in Minneapolis.
RAPTORS AND BULLS REMAIN FIRMLY IN THE EAST
In Cleveland, the Toronto Raptors improved their third best record in the Eastern Conference this season following a 99-93 win at Cleveland Cavaliers.
All-Star DeMar DeRozan had a game best 33 points for Toronto who trail the reigning champions Miami Heat and East leaders Indiana Pacers in the East.
Kyrie Irving contributed 25 points and had nine assists for the Cavs who fell 5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Conference.
The Atlanta Hawks extended their worst moment of the season after losing their ninth of the past ten games on Tuesday.
Playing in front of their home crowd, the Hawks fell 107-103 to the Chicago Bulls, who stand fourth seed in the East.
TURNER SHINES FOR INDIANA
Until the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers hold the best record in the league this season thanks to a 118-98 home win over the Los Lakers (19-38), who have the worst record in the West.
Evan Turner who made his bow for the Pacers, after playing half the current season for the Philadelphia 76ers, contributed 13 points, although Paul George stood out with a team-high 20 points for the Indiana.
Despite the absence of injured Brazilian Nene Hilário, who was outstand in the past few games, the Washington Wizards overcame the Orlando Magic 115-106 at home
And the winner of the 2014 All-Star Dunk contest John Wall scored 27 points for the Wizards, who have won a season-high four in a row, while Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 26 points.
For the third straight time this season, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets in the Northwest Division thanks to a 100-95 win on Tuesday. Portland extended their winning streak to three games.
