<p class="title">James Harden's 50-point triple-double powered the Houston Rockets to a 119-108 NBA victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 50 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out 10 assists as the playoff-bound Rockets fended off a Kings squad that was officially eliminated from post-season contention with the defeat.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden had his 42nd career triple-double and his NBA record fifth with 50 or more points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was his third 50-point game in the last six and his seven three-pointers saw him become the ninth player in league history to reach 2,000 career three-pointers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Rockets needed every bit of that output to put away a Kings team fighting for their playoff lives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden, who scored 31 points in the first half, scored 12 points in the final six minutes as the Rockets came back from a 93-91 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A 7-2 spurt from Houston saw the Rockets take a 98-95 lead, and it was nip-and-tuck until Harden scored all 10 points in a 10-2 Rockets run that gave them a 111-102 lead with 3:13 remaining.</p>.<p class="bodytext">From there the Kings wouldn't get the deficit below seven points, as the Rockets turned the defensive screws -- limiting Sacramento to 15 points in the final frame.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Point guard Chris Paul added 22 points and Clint Capela chipped in 24 points with 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who improved to 49-28 as they continue to duel with the Portland Trail Blazers for third seed in the Western Conference.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Blazers took a 48-27 record into their later game with the Detroit Pistons.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Sacramento's elimination all eight Western Conference playoff teams were confirmed, with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder berths the last to be secured.</p>
<p class="title">James Harden's 50-point triple-double powered the Houston Rockets to a 119-108 NBA victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 50 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out 10 assists as the playoff-bound Rockets fended off a Kings squad that was officially eliminated from post-season contention with the defeat.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden had his 42nd career triple-double and his NBA record fifth with 50 or more points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was his third 50-point game in the last six and his seven three-pointers saw him become the ninth player in league history to reach 2,000 career three-pointers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Rockets needed every bit of that output to put away a Kings team fighting for their playoff lives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Harden, who scored 31 points in the first half, scored 12 points in the final six minutes as the Rockets came back from a 93-91 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A 7-2 spurt from Houston saw the Rockets take a 98-95 lead, and it was nip-and-tuck until Harden scored all 10 points in a 10-2 Rockets run that gave them a 111-102 lead with 3:13 remaining.</p>.<p class="bodytext">From there the Kings wouldn't get the deficit below seven points, as the Rockets turned the defensive screws -- limiting Sacramento to 15 points in the final frame.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Point guard Chris Paul added 22 points and Clint Capela chipped in 24 points with 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who improved to 49-28 as they continue to duel with the Portland Trail Blazers for third seed in the Western Conference.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Blazers took a 48-27 record into their later game with the Detroit Pistons.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Sacramento's elimination all eight Western Conference playoff teams were confirmed, with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder berths the last to be secured.</p>