Rockets emerge victorious from shootout with Nets

NEW YORK – The Nets would not allow the Rockets to cruise. The Rockets could score. That was clear from the start. They also had to.

With the Nets on their heels, the Rockets had their top-scoring game since New Year's Eve, holding off the Nets, 123-113, Tuesday in Barclays Center.

The Rockets spent the game scoring, and often seemed to have put up enough points to consider the game in the win column. They did not spend much time stopping the Nets, who gave chase to the final minute. When James Webb III scored on a drive, the Nets were within six with 1:22 left.

With that, Harden finally finished them off, first drawing a three-shot foul and then nailing his fourth 3-pointer, giving the…