By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - James Harden scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, and the Houston Rockets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 130-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Harden also had 13 assists. Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley scored 19 points apiece for the Rockets (39-41), who had lost two in a row.
The Lakers pulled within two early in the fourth quarter before Harden got rolling, scoring 16 points in less than four minutes to help push the lead to 108-96.
Kobe Bryant, who has just two games left before his retirement, had 35 points for the Lakers, who lost their fifth straight.
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