Harden gets some help harnessing Thunder

HOUSTON - Although James Harden is Houston's undisputed star, he can't top Russell Westbrook entirely on his own.

As is so often the case, Patrick Beverley was there for support on Sunday night.

Harden scored 37 points to outshine Westbrook as the Rockets pulled away in the third quarter and coasted to a 118-87 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal.