HOUSTON (AP) – James Harden had 37 points in 30 minutes, leading the Rockets to a 128-86 victory over the visiting Shanghai Sharks here.
Harden was 13 of 18 from the field, including 9 of 14 from 3-point range. He also had nine assists. PJ Tucker had 22 points and six 3-pointers as the Rockets launched 66 3s, making 28.
Jimmer Fredette led the way for the Sharks with 41 points on 16-of-40 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and three assists.
Scola, a former Rocket, finished with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 12 rebounds.
Center Zhang Zhaoxu had 10 points and five rebounds.
Houston hit 17 3s in the first half and scored 73 points. Harden had 17 points in the first quarter as the Rockets built a 38-20 lead.
Meantime, Houston’s Zhou Qi played only three minutes before the 7-foot-1 center from China sprained his left knee.
Qi, the Rockets’ second-round pick in 2016 who played in 18 games last season, was playing in his first preseason game.
He bent over to pick up a loose ball in the lane in the second quarter when Shanghai’s Luis Scola crashed into his left knee, bending it sideways. The 22-year-old Qi immediately grimaced in pain and grabbed for the knee.
He was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said before the game Qi was expected to see plenty of playing time against Yao Ming’s former team.
It was one of 13 preseason games this year where NBA teams host international clubs. The other international teams include the Beijing Ducks, Melbourne United, New Zealand Breakers, Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats.
In addition, the Mavericks and 76ers played two exhibition games against each other in China this preseason.
THUNDER 119, BUCKS 115, OT
Deonte Burton had 16 points for the Thunder, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime. Paul George played only the first half and finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
Christian Wood had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 15 rebounds for the Bucks. Tyler Zeller had 17 points, and Tim Frazier made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the key to send the game into overtime.
Rookie guard Donte DiVincenzo, who helped lead Villanova to the national championship last season, got the start for the Bucks.