(REUTERS) - James Harden recorded his 16th triple-double of the season, and the Houston Rockets grabbed a season-high 20 offensive rebounds to claim a tense back-and-fourth affair with the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-112 on Sunday night (March 12) in the National Basketball Association.

Harden scored a game-high 38 points and added 10 rebounds and 11 assists as Houston split the season series with Cleveland. His 11-point third quarter helped the Rockets erase a nine-point half-time deficit and his steady hand in the final period enabled Houston to pull away down the stretch.

Six Rockets scored in double figures, including Eric Gordon (13 points) and Nene (12) off the bench.

LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 30 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. Kyrie Irving chipped in 28 points and eight assists for Cleveland, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

In Boston, the Celtics cruised past Chicago 100-80, handing the Bulls their season-worst fifth straight loss.

Isaiah Thomas finished with 22 points, and Avery Bradley scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win.

The Bulls scored 26 points in the first half and did not make any noise until late in a 31-point third quarter. Robin Lopez and Denzel Valentine led Chicago with 13 points apiece. Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, who came in averaging a combined 42.6 points per game, were a combined 6-of-22 from the floor and had five and eight points, respectively.

In Los Angeles, Dario Saric scored a career-high 29 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-116.

Saric also had seven rebounds and five assists. Jahlil Okafor contributed 23 points and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added 18 points for the 76ers, who moved in front for good on T.J. McConnell's bucket on a drive with 50 seconds left.

Jordan Clarkson matched his career best with 30 points to pace the Lakers, who lost for the ninth time in 10 contests. Julius Randle collected 21 points and 12 rebounds.