Boston Celtics' Amir Johnson, left, keeps the ball from Houston Rockets' Nene (42) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Boston Celtics' Amir Johnson, left, keeps the ball from Houston Rockets' Nene (42) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Credit: David J. Phillip

Houston — James Harden scored 37 points and Al Horford missed a shot just before the buzzer to allow the Houston Rockets to hold on for a 107-106 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

The game was tied before Harden scored five straight points to make it 107-102 with less than a minute remaining. Avery Bradley made a jump shot and Harden received a flagrant 1 foul for elbowing Marcus Smart in the face. Smart made both free throws before Isaiah Thomas missed a layup.

But Houston knocked the ball out of bounds with 5.2 seconds left, giving Boston one last chance. Horford drove into the lane, but his shot rolled off the rim and Harden grabbed it to secure the victory.

Horford had 21 points and Thomas added 20 for the Celtics, who had won two straight.

It was the ninth 30-point game this season for Harden, who also had eight assists and seven rebounds.

Nuggets 106, Sixers 98

Philadelphia — Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points and Will Barton had 22, including a big 3-pointer late, to lead Denver over Philadelphia.

Jamal Murray added 22 points for the Nuggets, who won for just the second time in the last seven games. It was their second contest of a six-game road trip.

Ersan Ilyasova, Sergio Rodriguez and Dario Saric all had 17 points for Philadelphia, which culminated a four-game homestand with its seventh straight defeat.

Cavaliers 116, Raptors 112

Toronto — LeBron James scored 34 points and Cleveland overcame an injury to J.R. Smith to snap its three-game losing streak with a victory over Toronto.

Smith injured his left knee in the first quarter after landing on a jump shot and hobbled to the dressing room in considerable pain.

He did not return, and the Cavaliers said X-rays taken at the arena were negative and that the guard would return to Cleveland on Tuesday for further examination.

Thunder 102, Hawks 99

Atlanta — Russell Westbrook extended his streak of triple-doubles to six games, leading Oklahoma City over skidding Atlanta.

Westbrook scored 32 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and doled out 12 assists, carrying on the NBA’s longest run of triple-doubles since Michael Jordan had seven in a row in 1989.

Wizards 118, Nets 113

New York — John Wall scored 25 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and Washington beat Brooklyn.

Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. had 18 points apiece and Markieff Morris added 16 for Washington.

Grizzlies 110Pelicans 108 (2 ot)

New Orleans — Marc Gasol had 28 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation, to go with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Memphia outlasted New Orleans in double overtime.

Gasol blocked two shots, including one by Terrence Jones that could have given the Pelicans the lead in the final seconds of the first overtime.

Trail Blazers 112, Bulls 110

Chicago — Damian Lillard had 30 points and seven assists, CJ McCollum scored 24 and Portland beat Chicago for its third consecutive victory.

Spurs 97, Bucks 96

Milwaukee — LaMarcus Aldridge was credited for the go-ahead basket with 21.2 seconds left after Giannis Antetokounmpo was whistled for goaltending, completing San Antonio’s rally from 15 points down in a win over Milwaukee.

Hornets 109, Mavericks 101

Dallas — Kemba Walker scored 19 points, Nicolas Batum had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Charlotte rallied to beat Dallas.

The Hornets took advantage of an injury to Mavericks center Andrew Bogut late in the first quarter to dominate the paint and the boards in coming back from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit.

Marco Belinelli scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including the team’s first two 3-pointers after the Hornets missed their first 14 from long range. Six Hornets scored in double figures.

Harrison Barnes scored 29 points and Deron Williams had his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 assists.

Bogut limped off the court with 45 seconds left in the first quarter after a collision on the defensive end. He grabbed his right knee immediately and was ruled out for the rest of the game.