In brief: Tempers flare between Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard in Rockets’ win over Nets
NBA: James Harden scored 30 points, carrying Houston on a night when Dwight Howard did little after fighting with Kevin Garnett, and the Rockets beat the slumping Brooklyn Nets 113-99 on Monday in New York.
Garnett was ejected in the first quarter after head-butting Howard in the face and throwing the ball at him, while Howard received a technical foul after appearing to punch or slap Garnett in the neck.
Howard had a quiet night otherwise, finishing with eight points and five rebounds, but the Rockets didn’t need much in the middle while dominating from the outside with 16 3-pointers in 40 attempts.
Mason Plumlee scored a career-high 24 for the Nets.
• Grizzlies get Green: The NBA has approved a five-player trade between the Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans that includes forward Jeff Green going from Boston to Memphis.
In the trade, the Grizzlies send forward Tayshaun Prince to Boston and forward Quincy Pondexter to New Orleans. The Grizzlies also acquired point guard Russ Smith from New Orleans, and a traded-player exception. The Pelicans send Austin Rivers to Boston.
Flyers rout Lightning
NHL: Jake Voracek was one of five Flyers to score in the second period, leading Philadelphia to a 7-3 win over visiting Tampa Bay.
Voracek, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Mark Streit and Brayden Schenn all scored in a 6-minute, 52-second span in the second to chase goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
• Capitals top Avalanche: Alex Ovechkin scored a tiebreaking power-play goal late in the second period to help host Washington beat Colorado 2-1. Jay Beagle also scored and Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots to earn his 21st victory for the Capitals.
Reed rallies for win
Miscellany: Patrick Reed holed an 80-yard shot for eagle and made two birdies in his last four holes, the last on the 18th hole in a playoff to beat Jimmy Walker in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Reed was four shots behind with four holes to play when he put together his big rally and closed with a 6-under 67.
• McCullough out for Orange: Freshman forward Chris McCullough of the Syracuse Orange is out for the season. Coach Jim Boeheim said McCullough suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.