NBA: Golden State Warriors hold off Houston Rockets despite James Harden's triple-double

Stephen Curry (centre), Patrick Beverley (left) and Lou Williams reach for a loose ball during the second half of their game at Toyota Center on March 28, 2017. PHOTO: USA TODAY SPORTS

Los Angeles (AFP) - Stephen Curry scored 32 points as the Golden State Warriors withstood Houston star James Harden's 20th triple-double of the season in a 113-106 National Basketball Association victory over the Rockets on Tuesday.

The league-leading Warriors stretched their winning streak to eight games, thwarting the Rockets' comeback bid.

Curry drained a three-pointer with 1:46 remaining as the Warriors stretched their lead back to double digits after seeing it dwindle.

Draymond Green scored 19 points, pulled down nine rebounds and came up with three steals in a characteristically energetic performance for the Warriors, clamping down defensively as the Rockets sought to close the gap down the stretch.

Klay Thompson added 25 points for the Warriors, who improved to 60-14 and will host the Rockets (41-23) - third in the West behind Golden State and San Antonio - on Friday.

Harden finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. But he connected on just five of 20 shots from the field and was one-of-nine from three-point range.

He also coughed up six turnovers as the Warriors came up big defensively - limiting one of the league's most explosive offenses to just 38.8 per cent shooting.

While the Warriors were strengthening their grip on the West, the Miami Heat clung to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 97-96 victory over the Pistons in Detroit.

Hassan Whiteside's tip-in beat the buzzer after a wild scramble during which the Heat missed two attempts on their final possession.

Whiteside, who needed 13 stitches in a cut on his right hand last week, managed to manoeuvre the ball to his left and get it in the basket just in time.

The Heat scored the last five points of the contest after relinquishing a nine-point lead in the final period.

They are one game ahead of the Chicago Bulls, while the Pistons slipped 2 1/2 games behind the Heat.

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