James Harden of Houston pierces the Sacramento defense. | AP photo
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — James Harden and the Houston Rockets are finding their rhythm at the right time.
Looks as if some help is on the way, too.
Harden made eight 3-pointers and scored 36 points, helping Houston beat the Sacramento Kings 127-101 on Wednesday night.
“We played very, very well,” Harden said. “We’re kind of catching a momentum and it feels pretty good. It’s even more exciting once we get our full roster back.”
The Rockets closed out a four-game trip with their third consecutive victory, and they appeared to be on the verge of adding Iman Shumpert to their array of talented shooters. Gerald Green matched his season high with 25 points, and Eric Gordon scored 20 points.
Houston, Sacramento and Cleveland were working on a trade that most notably will move Shumpert from the Kings to the Rockets. Houston is sending Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss to the Cavaliers. Alec Burks — now traded for the second time this season, after starting the year in Utah — will go from the Cavaliers to the Kings.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the NBA trade call has not yet been completed.
“Shump is a vet who can help us defensively, ball-handling, shooting,” Harden said. “He’s been playing very well this season. Once he gets here and gets a couple of practices in, let’s go.”
Houston has won seven games by 20 or more points this season, including twice on its road trip.
“That’s a good trip for us,” Chris Paul said. “To get three on this road trip, we’re playing the right way.”
Sacramento also was working on a trade for Dallas’ Harrison Barnes in another deal ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
The Kings had won three in a row and four of five. Buddy Hield had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Marvin Bagley III added 10 points and 10 boards.
“Tough night,” coach Dave Joerger said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, they did. It’s been a tough couple of hours and an interesting couple of hours.”
Sacramento kept Harden off the line, but the reigning NBA MVP still scored almost at will.
Harden collected 25 points while helping Houston to a 76-45 halftime lead. He made four 3-pointers during a 19-3 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter.
Harden — the NBA leader in average free-throw attempts — was limited to two, matching his season low. But he went 13 for 26 from the field.
“Guys set the tone early,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Pretty impressive finish of the road trip. There’s just a lot of good things that we did solid.”
Things got chippy midway through the fourth when Harden was called for a technical foul after he exchanged words with Sacramento’s Frank Mason near midcourt.
The Kings struggled to keep up. They trailed by as many as 37 in the second half.
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