HOUSTON — James Harden scored a career-high 50 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 118-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

Harden eclipsed his previous career-best of 46, set in 2013, on a free throw with about a minute remaining.

On Houston’s next possession, Trevor Ariza found him in the corner and he swished a 3 under heavy pressure, to make it 50.

Six straight points by the Nuggets had cut the lead to 8 with about five minutes left, but Harden scored seven points late in the game to secure the victory.

It was the 29th game Harden had at least 30 points this season.

TIMBERWOLVES 95, KNICKS 92: Zach LaVine made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 10.7 seconds left and scored six points in overtime at New York in a matchup of the NBA’s biggest losers.

Minnesota (15-53) ended a six-game losing streak and snapped a tie with the Knicks (14-54) for the NBA’s worst record. But New York can still win for losing, and now has pole position in the race for the No. 1 draft pick.

The Wolves won for the second time in 12 games, despite having eight players on the injury list, leaving them so short-handed they had to sign Sean Kilpatrick from Delaware of the NBA D-League just to field the mandated league minimum of eight active players.