ROCKETS-HORNETS
Harden scores 29, Rockets beat Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β James Harden scored 29 points, Josh Smith had a double-double and the Houston Rockets defeated the Charlotte Hornets for the ninth straight time 100-90 on Monday night.
Harden was only 7 of 20 from the field, but did plenty of damage from the free throw line where he was 14 of 16.
Smith added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who moved back into a tie with San Antonio for first place in the Southwest division with one game remaining in the season.
Jason Terry had 13 points and Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer chipped in with 11 for the Rockets (55-26).
The Rockets rested center Dwight Howard.
Brian Roberts scored 23 points off the bench for the Hornets, who have lost five straight games.
Charlotte played without starters Al Jefferson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller and reserves Lance Stephenson and P.J. Hairston due to injuries.
COACHES-GOLF AUCTION
Calipari, Izzo to be part of golf event for cancer awareness
DETROIT (AP) β John Calipari, Tom Izzo and John Beilein are part of an impressive roster of coaches who will be participating in a round of golf at Oakland Hills Country Club on June 1 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Oakland University coach Greg Kampe is organizing the event, which also will include Roy Williams, Sean Miller, Steve Alford, Rick Barnes, Bob Huggins and Josh Pastner.
An online auction began Monday at coachesbeatcancer.org β winning bidders will participate in a two-day event in the Detroit area May 31-June 1. They’ll have a chance to attend a private dinner May 31 with all 10 coaches. Then each winner will be able to play a round of golf the next day at Oakland Hills with the coach he or she bid on.
MARLINS-BRAVES
Callaspo drives in go-ahead run as Braves top Marlins 3-2
ATLANTA (AP) β Alberto Callaspo hit a tiebreaking single in Atlanta’s two-run fifth inning and the Braves held off Miami in the ninth inning to beat the Marlins 3-2 on Monday night in a game slowed by two rain delays.
Shelby Miller (1-0) allowed one run in five innings as the Braves bounced back from their first loss and handed the Marlins their sixth loss in seven games.
Jason Grilli gave up a double to Martin Prado to open the ninth before striking out Michael Morse and Marcell Ozuna. After walking Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Grilli gave up a run-scoring single to Adeiny Hechavarria. Grilli struck out Jeff Baker on a called third strike to earn his fourth save.
Marlins starter Mat Latos (0-2) gave up three runs β two earned β and five hits in four-plus innings.
KNICKS-HAWKS
Galloway scores 26 points, Knicks stunt Hawks 112-108
ATLANTA (AP) β Rookie Langston Galloway scored a career-high 26 points, hitting all six of his 3-point attempts, and the New York Knicks stunned the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks 112-108 Monday night.
The Knicks led by 17 in the first half and held off several furious comebacks by the Hawks. Atlanta came into its final home game of the regular season having long ago clinched the top seed in the East and leading New York by 44 games in the standings.
Atlanta tied the game at 87 on Shelvin Mack’s 3-pointer with 9:49 remaining. But the Knicks, the NBA’s lowest-scoring team, responded as they have so few times during their miserable season β with three straight 3-pointers, two by Galloway, to reclaim control.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points for the Knicks, and Jason Smith had 20.
Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver led Atlanta with 19 apiece.
