Over to the NBA, where the Houston Rockets would be on the road to visit the L.A. Lakers. This is the second time in two weeks the clubs had played -- and last time they met, it was the Lake Show getting better of H-town, snapping their 14-game winstreak. Interestingly enough, neither team had won since then. The Rockets had dropped five straight, while the Purple and Gold had also lost five in a row. And because someone had to win, it was only fitting that the squads went to overtime to settle things, in fact double overtime. In the end, it was Houston coming away with a W 148-142, but it came at a price, as MVP candidate James Harden left the game in the fourth with an injury after scoring 40 points in the tight contest.

In other action, the Phoenix Suns at home to the Philadelphia 76ers.  The visitors take control in the first half, Joel Embiid is double-teamed and finds Dario Saric, the Croatin cans the triple, to make it a 13-point lead.  Philly would be in front by as much as 18, before Phoenix makes a 32-11 run in the third to cut into the lead -- T-J Warren getting hacked in the act. The lead is down to three.

And Devin Booker, also gets three the hard way, getting the floater to fall, and his freebie puts the Suns up by a single point. The Sixers get back to basics, feeding Embiid on the block, and he also gets a chance at a three-point play, and the visitors go back in front.

Booker keeps it close, getting the left-handed jumper. He had 28 of his 32 in the second half. Hosts trail by 2.  The young Philly team, would not falter though -- first its Saric from the land beyond. The team from the city of brotherly love up 4. Saric had a season-high 27.

Then Ben Simmons rocks the rack -- the visitors opening up a 6-point edge, 21 for the rook.  Booker, then uses the Tyson Chandler pick, and brings the Suns back to within a point, as he dials long distance.

But the Sixers are able to open up an 11-point lead late, as J-J Redick runs off a screen, and is left wide-open for two of his 22 points. Philly wins 123-110, their third victory in four games.

As for other games, Bradley Beal went for 39 to lift Washington over Chicago. Minny has now won 9 of 12 after topping Indy. Boston edged Brooklyn, thanks to 28 from Kyrie Irving including a pair of free throws in the dying seconds to ice the victory. Dallas picked up their fourth straight win, by dumping OKC, despite a 38-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist effort from league MVP, Russell Westbrook, Memphis won as did the Clippers who got 40 from Lou Williams off the bench.