Rockets beat Nets; Garnett, Howard fight

NEW YORK (AP) -- James Harden scored 30 points, carrying Houston on a night when Dwight Howard did little after fighting with Kevin Garnett, and the Rockets beat the slumping Brooklyn Nets 113-99 on Monday.

Garnett was ejected in the first quarter after head-butting Howard in the face and throwing the ball at him, while Howard received a technical foul after appearing to punch or slap Garnett in the neck.

Howard had a quiet night otherwise, finishing with eight points and five rebounds, but the Rockets didn't need much in the middle while dominating from the outside with 16 3-pointers in 40 attempts.

Mason Plumlee scored a career-high 24 points for the Nets, who lost their sixth straight.

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