NBA Power Rankings: Blake Griffin trade shakes things up

The Rockets won a gritty game over the Heat on Monday, taking advantage of Goran Dragic’s absence to secure a 99-90 win at home. It was an ugly game, but James Harden was able to grind out 28 points and they went on a late run to claim a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. They won the I-45 Showdown over the Mavericks, 104-97, making it six straight over their in-state rival. They outscored the Mavericks by 18 from the perimeter, making 21 of their 51 3-point attempts on the evening. Harden lead the team in scoring with 25 points, and Trevor Ariza chipped in 23 points, and they shook off a 11-23 performance at the free throw line.

They lost to the Pelicans on Friday night, 115-113, nearly rallying from a 21-point deficit behind Chris Paul’s 38-point performance. It was an emotional ending, with Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins rupturing his Achilles tendon on one of the final plays of the game. Harden finished two assists shy of a triple-double against the overmatched Phoenix Suns. Trevor Ariza injured his leg in the first quarter, and the team will evaluate him for a hamstring injury on Monday.