The Houston Rockets finally won their first home game on Sunday, defeating the visiting Indiana Pacers 115-103 at the Toyota Center, breaking the home losing streak. It also came amid reports of Carmelo Anthony soon leaving Houston.

Rockets finally shooting like rockets

Having struggled for 11 games, the Rockets found their offense again as they put down season-high scoring performances in both the second quarter (44 points) and the first half (76 points). Moreover, they made a total 20 three-pointers, a new record for the 2018-19 regular season.

James Harden turned on his "MVP mode," scoring 40 points, including eight three-pointers – the second-most in his career. After Sunday's game, Harden matched Steve Nash for No. 18 on the list of NBA career three-point scoring leaders with 1,685.

Chris Paul was also doing better, putting down 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, including taking key points in the last minutes of the game when the Pacers narrowed the score difference down to 10 points.

Though Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Bojan Bogdanovic scored respectively 22+10+7 and 20+6+6, the team trailing by 22 points after the second half (54-76) was too far away to catch up in two quarters and had to accept their sixth loss of the season.

Is Carmelo Anthony leaving Houston?

During the Rockets game against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote on Twitter that Anthony and Houston were discussing his role with the team as well as "how they might still be able to proceed together for the rest of the season."

Marc Stein from New York Times followed with a report that Anthony had already been informed that "his brief time with the team will soon be ending." 

Before the game against the Pacers on Sunday, the Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey held a press conference to deny such rumors: "I would expect him to be playing when he's healthy."

Morey's comments did nothing to dissuade others as ESPN's Tim MacMahon later reported: "Sources: Rockets players and coaches believe that Carmelo Anthony has played his final game for the franchise."

It's true that Anthony is going through his worst season since he joined the league in 2003. His average scoring, field-goal rates and three-point rates are all at career record lows. However, he was definitely not the only one to blame for Houston's disappointing performance so far, especially after he agreed to start from the bench.

LeBron James makes game-winning dunk

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 107-106 at the Staples Center, giving them their first three straight wins of the season. LeBron James scored the court's highest 26 points plus seven rebounds and four assists. The Lakers' Lonzo Ball put down eight points, six rebounds and 11 assists.

The Hawks had three players scoring 20+ points and they were one-year-rookie Trae Young (20 points plus 12 assists), Taurean Prince (23 points) and Kent Bazemore (21 points).

Atlanta had their chance to win the game as they were leading 106-105 in the last 20 seconds. James then won two free throws with his penetration but missed both of them. Fortunately for LA, Kyle Kuzma grabbed the offensive rebound and though he missed the shot, James put the ball back into the basket with a two-hand dunk to help the Lakers regain the lead (107-106).

Twenty-year-old Young carried the Hawks' last attack by making the shot at the end of the last 15.3 seconds but to be rejected by Tyson Chandler. Thanks to this victory, the Lakers raised their game-winning rates to over 50 percent and ranked No.8 in the Western Conference.

Other games on Sunday included: (away teams come first)

Charlotte Hornets 113-103 Detroit Pistons

Orlando Magic 115-89 New York Knicks

Milwaukee Bucks 121-114 Denver Nuggets

Boston Celtics 94-100 Portland Trail Blazers