INDIANAPOLIS: James Harden found all the cracks in Indiana's defense Monday night.

The three-time All-Star scored 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter; including 12 during a decisive 4-minute flurry that helped the Houston Rockets pull away for a 110-100 victory over the Pacers, who have lost six in a row.

Even against one of the NBA's staunchest defenses.

While some teams cringe at the sight of facing the Pacers, Harden seems to have embraced it.

He scored 45 points in the season's first matchup and nearly did it again Monday when he was 10 of 21 from the field and 21 of 22 from the free throw line with seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Houston (47-23) has won four of five.


How good was Harden on a night when the Rockets were short-handed


He matched the Pacers point-for-point in the first quarter, 15-15, and put them away by hitting 3-pointers, driving to the basket and drawing fouls in a nearly perfect fourth.


The Pacers (30-40) didn't have an answer on a tough shooting night.


C.J. Watson scored 23 points and George Hill finished with 20, but Indiana's fading playoff hopes took another hit. The Pacers haven't won since March 12, dropping them from sixth place in the East to 10th - two spots out of the playoffs. They are barely ahead of 11th-place Brooklyn.


Harden's 21 free throws were the most ever made by a Pacers opponent, and they came two nights after Indiana allowed a franchise-record shooting percentage on its home court to Brooklyn.


Houston closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to make it 76-68, rebuilt a double-digit margin early in the fourth and relied on Harden to deliver the knockout punch late.